Anticipating the current back off to carry on for a few more days, futures and options (F&O) traders on April 08, 2009 relaxed their short positions at 3,300-3,400 call options.

These traders anticipated the Nifty to attain the 200 daily moving average (DMA) level of 3,443 sometime by the coming week and, hence, they developed long positions of 637,600 shares in 3,500 strike call options.

The open interest (OI) at 3,300 strike call options turned down by 540,850 shares, pointing that traders wanted the Nifty to trade above 3,300 going forward.

According to data released by BSE, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) remained net buyers in the equity segment worth Rs 5.73 billion on both the BSE and the NSE on April 8.

FIIs purchased equities worth Rs 37.50 billion, while their gross sales stood at Rs 3,177.62 crore.

Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) including banking institutions, DFIs, Insurance and MFs remained net sellers in the equity segment worth Rs 378.22 on both the BSE and the NSE on April 8.

Tokyo  - The Tokyo market bounced back Thursday after investors were cheered by better-than-expected machinery orders.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average gained 158.38 points, or 1.84 per cent, in morning trading to 8,753.39.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also up 12.61 points, or 1.55 per cent, at 827.87.

The Tokyo indices plunged more than 2 per cent Wednesday on concerns about upcoming corporate earnings reports.

New York - US stocks gained Wednesday, ending a volatile session and a two-day losing streak, amid optimism over a major merger in the housing sector.

Stocks briefly cut gains after the Federal Reserve said in its minutes from its last policy meeting in March that "downward risks" remained in the economy. The United States is in the midst of one of its longest recessions since the Great Depression.

The Fed noted a rapid deterioration in labour market conditions, with steep job losses across all sectors.

Despite a negative start on Wednesday, owing to weak cues from international markets, the Sensex managed to close with a gain of 207 points.

In a day marked by ups and downs, the Sensex, which opened at 10,284 points, soon fell to a low of 10,172; before being recovered by selective buying in FMCG and realty stocks. With recovery being swifter than expected and buying spreading to other sectors, the Sensex rallying to a high of 10,778, before finally closing at 10,742 points.