The BSE benchmark Sensex and the broader Nifty ended the truncated week with modest gains as caution prevailed ahead of the Union Budget due next week.

The week saw every market surge was frequented by volatility over uncertain global peers due to huge debt repayment talks between Greece and Eurozone ministers hogged the limelight.

IFCI, an Indian state-run lender, might sign an agreement to sell part of its 5.5 per cent stake in the nation's biggest stock exchange in three days.

IFCI is in advanced talks with a foreign private equity fund to sell 1.1 per cent stake in the National Stock Exchange. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is helping the Delhi-based company with the sale, Chief Executive Officer Malay Mukherjee said, without disclosing details.

MUMBAI: Continuing its rising streak for the seventh straight session, the BSE Sensex rose 114 points and the NSE Nifty regained the 8,900-level in early trade today as participants indulged in enlarging positions ahead of Budget.

The 30-share barometer spurted by 114.65 points, or 0.39 per cent, to trade at 29,434.91 with consumer durables, realty, auto, oil and gas and banking sector stocks, leading the rise.

Benchmark indices have continued to trade firm led primarily by the gains in financials and select index heavyweight and IT stocks like ITC and TCS.

At 2:12PM, the 30-share Sensex was up 218 points at 29,345 and the 50-share Nifty was up 62 points at 8,871.

Stock markets today rose for the second straight day with the benchmark Sensex rising 178.35 points to end at 28,533.97 and the Nifty index reclaiming the 8,600-mark powered by a rebound in bluechips amid hopes of faster reforms and optimism over the upcoming Budget.

After surging to 28,618.91 points on value-buying, the Sensex slipped partially to end at 28,533.97, logging a net gain of 178.35 points, or 0.63 per cent. Intra-day, it hit day’s low of 28,424.39. Yesterday, the index snapped a seven-day downtrend by rising 128.23 points.

In growing use of technology, trading through mobile phones soared nearly three times last year at the National Stock Exchange, while Internet-based trades rose by 52%.

As per the latest data compiled by the NSE, the average daily turnover of trades through mobiles stood at Rs 156 crore in 2014, up from Rs 64 crore in 2013.

The Indian markets on Friday ended lower for a sixth straight day due to disappointing third quarter numbers posted by blue-chip companies, including Tata Motors.

Concerns that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) might face defeat in the Delhi Assembly elections also weighed on investor sentiment.

Buoyed by retail participation in recent Coal India divestment programme through OFS, India’s leading bourse NSE on Wednesday said brokerages and investors need to keep adequate funds ready to buy shares in such issues as they are announced in a short notice.

The offer for sale (OFS) mechanism facilitates the promoters of listed companies to sell their existing shareholding through an exchange-based bidding platform.

A sharp drop in banking stocks following weak results and Coal India's mega offering saw the markets post their biggest drop in three weeks on Friday. Earnings posted by ICICI Bank and Bank of Baroda raised asset quality concerns, spooking banking stocks - which have weight of nearly a third on benchmark indices. Market players said selling pressure accentuated as investors liquidated their positions to invest in the share sale of state-owned Coal India.

The BSE Sensex continued its record setting spree and hit a new peak of 29,844.16 and the NSE Nifty inched towards the 9,000-level in early trade today on robust fund inflows and sustained optimism over the upcoming Budget.

The 30-share index rose by 162.39 points, or 0.54 per cent, to hit a new peak of 29,844.16 (intra-day), breaking its previous record of 29,786.32 touched on January 28.

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