After opening with a bang at 15,668.40, the 30-share BSE Sensex is trading strongly at the moment backed by heavyweights and good worldwide cues.

Asian stock market also opened positively today, on assumption that rising steel costs and crude oil will encourage earnings. Japanese stocks after an early fall, recovered intensity and entered the positive ground; thus indicating signs of volatility.

The BSE Midcap arose 0.87%, whilstBSE Smallcap ascended 1.04%.

Bhupendra Sharma, vice president, Hornic Investments, stated that stock market will remain positive today and is expected to reach new highs shortly. Stocks to be looked out include Escorts, Welspun Gujarat, Reliance Industries, Reliance Petroleum, and Reliance Energy. Among small cap stocks, he is optimistic on Futurapoly, NCL Industries and Media Video.

The overall market breath was positive as there were 1,288 advancements as against 287 declinations. Amongst the sectoral indices, BSE Auto climbed 0.37%, BSE IT came up 0.14%, BSE Bankex jumped 0.28%, BSE Realty lifted 0.52%.

Key gainers list included ITC, which gained 1.90% to Rs 188.00, Cipla which arose 1.26% at Rs 181.00 and HDFC rose 1.16% at Rs 2,128.00. L&T, Ranbaxy, NTPC, Hindalco and Bharti Airtel were other gainers.

Laggards at the BSE were Ambuja Cement, which declined 0.59% at Rs 143.75, Tata Motors declined 0.26% at Rs 701.00 and Infosys dipped 0.08% at Rs 1,870.05.

Equity shares of Motilal Oswal Financial Services (MOFSL), a Mumbai-based leading financial services provider, were listed for trading at the stock exchange today. The scrip opened at a premium of 21%, or at Rs 999, as against the issue price of Rs 825.