The 30 share index, Sensex gained 409.84 points in the week ended Dec 19, 2008, while the broad based NSE Nifty surged 156.15 points during the same period.

On Monday, the benchmark index Sensex started the week strongly following worldwide signals and saw volatility all through the day. Realty and metal sectors were the major performers.

The Sensex ended the week on a flat note amid volatility as investors booked profit at higher levels.

Realty sector, which 10.57%, was the major gainer on Friday on expectations of further cut in interest rates and a strong fiscal stimulus from the government.

Auto (1.79%) and consumer durable (1.59%) stocks also gained while oil & gas stocks (-0.63%)went down.

BSE Midcap and Smallcap index gained 1.85% and 0.86% respectively.

New York  - The US automotive industry led Wall Street's broad-based Standard and Poor's 500 Index higher Friday, after President George W Bush announced emergency loans to keep struggling carmakers afloat through the winter.

The government move calmed fears that General Motors and Chrysler could both collapse within days without an interim bail-out.

On prospects of more measures from the government to stimulate the ailing real estate and auto sectors, stocks from these segments have rallied sharply in today’s session.

The key realty stocks gained the most followed by auto and power stocks.

Among the sectoral indices, BSE Realty surged 8.59%, Auto zoomed 3.05% and Power arose 2.11%, while IT lost 0.89%.

The Sensex, which had slipped into the negative around noon after an earlier sharp upmove, gained momentum on account of buying interest across index heavyweights.

Tokyo  - Stocks in Tokyo fell in Friday morning trading shortly before a central bank decision on interest rates after drops overnight on Wall Street.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average was down 94.95 points, or 1.1 per cent, at 8,572.28.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues also declined 3.16 points, or 0.38 per cent, to 835.53.

The Bank of Japan was ending a two-day meeting Friday, after which it was expected to lower interest rates as the world's second-largest economy finds itself in recession.