INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
ITC, Reliance Industries, Bharti Airtel, Asian Paints and Axis Bank are the top Sensex gainersThe domestic stock markets have gained almost
half a per cent amid heightened volatility, extending the gains seen in Friday's session, due to strength in index heavyweights such as
ICICI Bank and Reliance Industries
respectively.Asian shares edged higher on Monday, looking to extend their recent rally to a third week should United States jobs figures
show the expected revival in hiring in May and keep the global recovery on track.MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside
Japan was a fraction firmer, having rallied 2.2 per cent last week
Japan's Nikkei was flat, while Australia rose 0.2 per cent to a fresh all-time peak.US stocks climbed on Friday as investors brushed off a
stronger-than-expected inflation reading, as both the Dow and S-P 500 indexes clinched their first weekly gain in the past three weeks.The
Dow Jones rose 0.19 per cent, S-P 500 gained 0.08 per cent and Nasdaq Composite added 0.09 per cent.On the economic front, the government
will release the provisional full-year GDP data post market hours.And on the earnings front, Aurobindo Pharma, Narayana Hrudalaya, Kolte
Patil Developers and Chemcon Speciality Chemicals will declare their March quarter results during the day.On the stock-specific front, ITC
has gained 1.4 per cent to Rs 215.95 to top the gainers list on the BSE ahead of the results scheduled on Tuesday
Reliance Industries has extended Friday's blockbuster gains by another 1 per cent
Bharti Airtel, Asian Paints and Axis Bank are the other significant gainers on the BSE.On the other hand, M-M has dived more than 5 per cent
to top the loser's list on the BSE
Tech Mahindra, HDFC, Infosys and L-T have shed around a per cent each on the BSE.The BSE market breadth is positive
Out of 2,563 stocks traded on the BSE, there are 1,276 advancing stocks as against 1,176 declines.
