Markets open in green, healthcare, FMCG, power stocks shine

New Delhi: Markets extended rally on Friday amidst strengthening in the rupee and healthy buying in healthcare, FMCG and power stocks.

Positive macro-economic trade data and low crude oil prices also buoyed the investors' sentiments.

The benchmark BSE Sensex rose 184.73 points, or 0.52 percent, to 35,445.27 in early session. The barometer had gained 118.55 points Thursday. The NSE Nifty jumped 47.85 points or 0.45 percent to 10,664.55.

Sun Pharma, Axis Bank, Asian Paint, RIL, M&M, Hero MotoCorp, TCS, HDFC Bank, Maruti Suzuki, PowerGrid, ICICI Bank, Tata Motors, Bajaj Auto, NTPC and Bharti Airtel, gaining up to 1.37 percent.

On the other hand, continuing its fall, Yes Bank was the biggest loser, dropping up to 6 percent. ONGC, Infosys, Tata Steel, Vedanta and Adani Ports too fell up to 3 percent.

Meanwhile, The rupee firmed 10 paise to 71.87 against the US dollar Friday on increased selling of the US currency by exporters and banks.

Foreign funds bought shares worth a net of Rs 2,043.06 crore Thursday, as per provisional data.

Among Asian peers, MSCI`s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was ahead 0.26 percent in early trade, while Japan`s Nikkei added 0.2 percent, Reuters added.

The benchmark S&P 500 index gained 1.06 percent to snap five days of losses, while the Dow rose 0.83 percent and the Nasdaq 1.72 percent. The plunge in sterling lifted the dollar against a basket of currencies to 97.066, even as the euro firmed a touch to $1.1328 .

With Agency Inputs