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Markets are likely to open in the green on Friday as trends on SGX Nifty suggest see a flat to a positive start. Benchmark indices are today expected to take cues from the global markets that surged as hints of progress in the US-China trade dispute and aggressive stimulus from the European Central Bank helped to counter worries about a global economic slowdown. The European Central Bank yesterday cut interest rates further below zero, to minus 0.5 per cent, and will start open-ended bond purchases at $22 billion a month starting November 1 as President Mario Draghi made a final run at reflating the euro-area economy. READ MORE Global markets were buoyed even further when US President Donald Trump said he preferred a comprehensive trade deal with China but did not rule out the possibility of an interim pact. Meanwhile, core consumer prices in US rose 2.4 per cent in August and jobless claims dropped more than expected. Wall Street advanced on Thursday, and the S&P 500 ended the session within striking distance of its all-time closing high. The Dow Jones rose 0.17 per cent, the S&P 500 gained 0.29 per cent, and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.3 per cent. Asian stocks advanced on Friday. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan ticked up 0.2 per cent, while Japan’s Nikkei rose 0.4 per cent. Back home, industrial production growth slipped to 4.3 per cent in July, mainly on account of the poor show by the manufacturing sector, according to official data released on Thursday. Retail inflation inched up marginally to 3.21 per cent in August from 3.15 per cent in July. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is likely to defer the Budget proposal of raising minimum public shareholding in listed companies to 35 per cent, as per another Business Standard report. You can read both these reports in full on our website.  In addition, investors will continue to track stock-specific action, the Rupee's trajectory, oil price movement, and foreign fund flow for cues. In the commodities markets, oil prices fell about 1 per cent on Thursday. Brent crude futures settled at $60.38 a barrel, shedding 43 cents. Now, let's quickly take a look at the top headlines for the day -  >> States rule out GST rate cut on automobiles amid grim revenue situation;  >> Bank credit growth slumps to 10.24%, deposits at 9.73%, shows RBI data;  >> RIL's e-auction mechanism for new KG-D6 gas; bidding likely on Oct 11; >> Hindustan Unilever emerges front-runner for Dinshaw's Dairy Foods And before we wrap, here is a stock recommendation by CapitalVia Global Research Limited-- The brokerage recommends buying HDFC Bank above Rs 2,290 with a target Rs 2,350 and stop loss placed at Rs 2,240

After trading flat for most part of the session, benchmark indices witnessed sharp decline in the fag-end of the trade on Thursday as investors turned cautious ahead of European Central Bank's (ECB) policy meeting later in the day. It is widely expected that the ECB will deliver stimulus to arrest a slowing global economy. That apart, investors also await key macro data such as IIP (index of industrial production) numbers for July and retail inflation (CPI) print for August due later in the day.  The S&P BSE Sensex shed 167 points or 0.45 per cent to settle at 37,104.28, with ICICI Bank (up 2 per cent) being the top gainer and YES Bank (down 5 per cent) the biggest loser.  On NSE, the Nifty50 index slipped below the crucial 11,000 level to close at 10,981, down 55 points or 0.50 per cent. Out of 50 constituents, 15 advanced while 35 declined.  Volatility index India VIX dropped over 3 per cent to end at 14.88 levels.  In the broader market, the S&P BSE MidCap index lost 25 points, or 0.18 per cent, to close at 13,610.09 levels, and the S&P BSE SmallCap index rose 16 points, or 0.12 per cent, to 12,908 levels. Among the sectoral indices on NSE, auto stocks bled the most, followed by FMCG, realty and IT stocks. The Nifty Auto index ended at 7,288.90, down 135 points or 1.81 per cent. BUZZING STOCKS Walchandnagar Industries (WIL), the heavy engineering products company, hit an upper circuit limit of 20 per cent at Rs 72.15 apiece on the BSE after the company secured an order worth Rs 77.20 crore plus escalation from the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Zee Media ended 8 per cent higher after its chief financial officer (CFO) resigned with effect from close of business on September 13, 2019.

Markets are likely to see a positive start on Wednesday as trends on SGX Nifty suggest a firm opening for domestic indices. In another important cue, the US market ended higher in the overnight trade and the Asian market had a positive start to the day. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones rose 0.9 per cent, the S&P 500 gained 0.7 per cent, and the Nasdaq added 1 per cent. Asian stocks followed suit. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.2 per cent and Japan’s Nikkei stock index rose 1 per cent. The surge in the global markets comes after US President Donald Trump agreed to delay an additional increase in tariffs on Chinese goods by two weeks. Yesterday, China had said it would exempt 16 types of U.S. products from import tariffs. Later in the day, investors will keenly watch the data on factory output (IIP) for July and retail inflation (CPI inflation) for August, set to be released later in the day, for cues as they continue to await further stimulus from the government to revive consumer sentiment. Investors also await a meeting of European Central Bank (ECB) later today. With growth slowing, the ECB has all but promised more support for the economy in one of the most closely watched meetings in years. Besides, market participants are expected to track stock-specific action, oil price movement, and the Rupee's trajectory, and investment by FIIs and DIIs to steer through the day.   In the commodities market, Oil prices slumped more than 2 per cent after a report that Trump weighed easing sanctions on Iran, which could boost global crude supply. US crude settled down $2.87 at $55.75 per barrel and Brent settled at $60.81, down 2.52% on the day. Back home, the S&P BSE Sensex ended Wednesday's session 0.34 per cent higher at 37,271, and the Nifty50 index ended at 11,036, up 0.3 per cent. Now, let's take a look at the top headlines for the day -  >> Ruias set to win back control of Mahan Power as ArcelorMittal bid falters;  >> Airfares set to rise 7-9% as Jet Airways crisis squeezes capacity additions;  >> Blackstone to invest Rs 15 bn in Allcargo unit to build warehouses in India; and >> Rating for Srei Infra Finance downgraded for debentures from AA to A+ And before we wrap, here is a stock recommendation by Tradebulls Securities-- The brokerage recommends selling Wipro at current market price of Rs 248.55, for the target of Rs 240. The stop loss is at Rs 254.

Benchmark indices ended Wednesday's range-bound session higher, lifted by public sector banks and metal stocks, thus extending their gains to three straight days. The S&P BSE Sensex added 125 points or 0.34 per cent to settle at 37,271.  YES Bank (up 13 per cent), Tata Motors (up 10%), Maruti Suzuki India (up 4%), Tata Steel (up 4%), and Vedanta (up 3 per cent) were the top gainers in the Sensex pack. About 1,845 shares advanced, 777 shares declined, and 153 shares remained unchanged on the BSE.  On NSE, the Nifty50 index settled at 11,036, up 33 points or 0.3 per cent. Majority of the Nifty sectoral indices ended higher. Nifty Realty index was up 4 per cent while Nifty PSU Bank and Nifty Auto indexes were up over 3 per cent each. On the other hand, Nifty IT index dipped 1 per cent. In the broader market, the S&P BSE MidCap index surged 140 points, or 1.04 per cent, to 13,635, while the S&P BSE SmallCap index settled at 12,892, up 182 points, or 1.43 per cent. Buzzing stock  YES Bank shares zoomed 15 per cent to Rs 72.55 apiece in early morning trade on the BSE on Wednesday, on reports that the private lender's co-founder Rana Kapoor was in talks with One97 Communications, owner of Paytm, to sell his stake. Kapoor and his associate entities owned 10.6 per cent in the bank at the end of June 2019. Around 7.34 per cent of the Kapoor family stake has been pledged with Reliance Nippon Asset Management Company (RNAMC). Shares of Reliance Nippon Life Asset Management slipped up to 4 per cent to Rs 274.5 on the NSE on Wednesday after the company informed the exchanges that it would sell up to 3.15 per cent of equity shares for over Rs 505 crore on stock exchanges through 'Offer for Sale' route on September 11 and 12.

On the September 11, 2001 at 8:46 am, a commercial jet plane flew into the North Tower of the World Trade Centre in New York. As the news was beamed across the world, people wondered whether the crash had been an accident or an act of terror. Some five minutes later, viewers watching the smoke billowing from the gash in the building were stunned to see a second jet plane dart into view and fly directly into the South Tower. Suddenly, it was clear that the United States was under attack. Over the next few days, the world learned that 19 al Qaeda terrorists, armed with box cutters and knives dodged airport security, and hijacked four planes. So what followed the attack? The 9/11 catastrophe set in motion a sequence of reactions and unintended consequences that continue to reverberate today. Some of the effects are - an unending war on terror, a sharp uptick in Western antagonism toward Muslims, the decline of US power and the eventual rise of leaders like the current US President Donald Trump. Weeks after 9/11, President George Bush invaded Afghanistan with the support of allies, and quickly toppled the Taliban government and crippled al Qaeda. In 2011, under President Barack Obama, US forces killed 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden. The US invaded Iraq in 2003, even though its dictator Saddam Hussein was not linked to 9/11. 9/11 also changed the world's opinion on India's fight against Pakistan-based terror groups. For years, terror attacks in India were regarded by the international community as localised affairs arising out of the long-held animosity between New Delhi and Islamabad and religious bigotry in the two countries. The 9/11 attacks shattered that myth.

Markets are likely to see a positive start on Wednesday as trends on SGX Nifty suggest a firm opening for domestic indices. Hopes of diminishing US-China tensions and reduced risk of no-deal Brexit prompted investors in Asia to take profit in risk-off trade ahead of key central bank policy meetings. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.10% while Japan's Nikkei was trading 0.6% higher during the early trade on Wednesday. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 ended little changed as a rally in energy and industrial shares countered a drop in the technology and real-estate sectors. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.28%, the S&P 500 gained 0.03%, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.04% during the overnight trade on Tuesday. Besides, market participants are expected to track stock-specific action, oil price movement, and the Rupee's trajectory, and investment by FIIs and DIIs to steer through the day.   In the commodities market, oil prices inched towards $63 per barrel mark, their highest levels in six weeks, after an industry report showed that US crude stockpiles fell by more than twice the amount that analysts had forecast. Investors, therefore, shouldn't lose sight of paint, OMCs, and tyre manufacturing companies. Back home, the S&P BSE Sensex ended Monday's session 0.44% higher at 37,145, and the Nifty50 index settled at 11,003, up 0.52%. Top headlines for the day, and stocks that are likely to remain in focus--   >> Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said the government was conscious that it needed to respond to the demands of the automobile industry. >> YES Bank will be in focus in today's session after reports suggested that Rana Kapoor, the bank's co-founder, was in talks with One97 Communications, owner of Paytm, to sell his stake in the private sector lender. >> The year-long liquidity pain in the NBFC sector is set to linger on through the rest of the fiscal year owing to the deepening slump in the overall economy, an India-Ratings and Research report said. >> The Reserve Bank of India mandating banks to link certain loans to the external benchmark-based interest rate from October 1 is credit negative to the lenders as it will limit their flexibility in managing risks, Moody's Investors Service said on Tuesday Here is a stock recommendation by Anand Rathi Shares and Stock Brokers -- The brokerage recommends BUYING ITC at current market price, for the target of Rs 259. The stop loss is at Rs 240.

Extending their gains for the second straight day, equity benchmark indices ended in the positive territory on Monday led by buying in counters such as HDFC, Larsen & Toubro (L&T), ICICI Bank, Maruti and Bajaj Finance.  The S&P BSE Sensex added 164 points or 0.44 per cent to settle at 37,145.45, with YES Bank (up over 4 per cent) being the top gainer and HCL Tech (down 1.50 per cent) the worst performer.  On NSE, the Nifty50 index reclaimed the crucial 11,000 level to settle at 11,003.05, up 57 points or 0.52 per cent. Out of 50 constituents, 35 advanced while 15 declined.  Volatility index India VIX slipped around 3 per cent to settle at 15.79.  Market breadth was in favour of the bulls as out of 2,719 stocks traded on the BSE, 1,602 advanced, 935 declined while 182 remained unchanged.  In the broader market, the S&P MidCap index surged 130 points, or 0.97 per cent, to 13,495 levels, and the S&P BSE SmallCap ended at 12,709.96, up 115 points or 0.92 per cent.  On the sectoral front, all the indices on NSE, except Nifty IT index ended in the red. PSU bank stocks gained the most, followed by private bank and auto counters. The Nifty PSU Bank index gained 1.61 per cent to settle at 2,419.70. Among individual stocks, Dilip Buildcon zoomed 11 per cent to end at Rs 425.25 apiece on the BSE. The company has recently signed deal to sell 100 per cent equity in five Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) projects to Cube Infra. Equitas Holdings ended over 6 per cent lower at Rs 108.55 apiece after Reserve Bank of India (RBI) denied to extend deadline for its subsidiary Equitas Small Finance Bank (ESFB), to get listed at the bourses. DHFL gained over 5 per cent to Rs 49 after it paid the entire pending amount to DSP Mutual Fund.

The Modi government 2.0 completed 100 days in office on September 30. 'Tezi se desh hit ke nirnay' - this is how Union Minister Prakash Javadekar summed up the first 100 days of the BJP-led government. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the first 100 days had been of "development, trust and big changes" in the country, the Congress party claimed that the same period was defined by a different set of three letters - tyranny, chaos and anarchy. How has the government performed so far? While there are many hits, there are also a few misses. Politically, Modi has emerged much stronger after his party’s stunning victory in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. But all has not been well under this government in the past 100 days. ALSO READ: The next 100 days The Indian economy has been the worst sufferer. The GDP growth in the first quarter of financial year 2019-20 slipped to the six-year low of five per cent. Meanwhile, the Indian rupee again became one of the worst-performing Asian currencies after depreciating 3.65 per cent against the dollar in August. This, too, is the steepest decline in the Indian currency in the last six years. The benchmark S&P BSE Sensex has tumbled over 7 per cent between 30th of May and 6th of September 2019. While 100 days aren't enough to assess the Modi government’s performance, it has, however, done more in the first 100 days of its second term than in its first.

Progress in trade-dialogues between the United States and China, macro-economic data, expectations of more stimulus measures from the government, foreign fund flow, oil price movement and the rupee's trajectory against the US dollar would steer indices this week. Markets, which will remain shut on Tuesday on account of Muharram, will await data on Industrial Production for the month of July, and CPI Inflation print for the month of August, scheduled to be released on September 12. Further, Wholesale Inflation data for the month of August is slated to be released on September 16. That apart, US economic adviser Larry Kudlow's comment that the talks between Washington and Beijing trade negotiators could "heat up" during meetings in October, could keep investors jittery. For Monday, trends on SGX Nifty suggest a flat to positive start for the domestic indices taking cues from Asian peers. Asian stocks registered modest gains on Monday, amid a cautious market mood as investors pinned expectations on likely stimulus to support growth in the world’s major economies. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan added 0.1%, Australian stocks edged up 0.1%, South Korea's rose 0.8% and Japan's Nikkei was up 0.5%. Equity benchmarks settled with nearly a per cent gain on Friday. The S&P BSE Sensex added 337 points or 0.92% to close at 36,982 level, while the broader Nifty50 settled at 10,946-mark, up 98 points or 0.91%. On Wall Street, US indices ended flat during the overnight trade on Friday. The Dow Jones settled 0.2 % higher, while the Nasdaq Composite closed with gains of 0.17%. In the commodities market, oil prices rose above $61 per barrel after the US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said the central bank will act "appropriately" to sustain an economic expansion in the world's biggest economy. Investors would also eye the OPEC meeting, scheduled for Sept 12, to track Brent's movement.  ******************************* Now let's take a look at the top headlines and stocks that will remain in focus -- >> Auto industry may have to wait longer for GST cut on cars as weak revenue position has made the Council wary on rate-cut. >> 18 PSBs hit by 2,480 cases of fraud of over Rs 31,000 cr in Q1 >> India is unlikely to underperform emerging markets: Sanjay Mookim, India Equity Strategist for Bank of America Merrill Lynch told Business Standard in an interview. ******************************** Before we wrap, here is a stock recommendation by Angel Broking -- The brokerage rcommends buying Bharat Forge at current levels for a target of Rs 426. The stop loss can be placed at Rs 375.

Headlines >> Markets stage smart recovery, Sensex surges 337 points; >> Unhappy over 100% FDI in mining, coal workers to strike on 24 Sep;  >> Finance Ministry against IOC acquiring govt stake in the BPCL, as per reports.  And, now the news in detail. Equity benchmarks settled with nearly a per cent gain on Friday amid buying in industry heavyweights such as Reliance Industries (RIL), Axis Bank, Maruti, Infosys and HDFC Bank. That apart, positive global cues, too, boosted investor sentiment.     The S&P BSE Sensex added 337 points or 0.92 per cent to close at 36,982, with Tech Mahindra (up around 4 per cent) being the top gainer and YES Bank (down nearly 2 per cent) the worst performer. On NSE, the frontline index Nifty50 settled at 10,946, up 98 points or 0.91 per cent.  Volatility index India VIX slipped nearly 7 per cent to end at 16.08 levels.  On a weekly basis, Sensex lost 0.94 per cent while NSE's Nifty50 index dropped 0.69 per cent.  On the sectoral front, auto stocks rallied the most, followed by metal and media stocks. The Nifty Auto index ended at 7,102 levels, up over 2.61 per cent. Market breadth remained in favour of advances as out of 2,658 stocks traded on the BSE, 1,583 advanced and 921 declined while 154 scrips remained unchanged. In the global markets, Asian stocks gained, joining a global trend as investors took heart from firm US economic data plans hopes a meeting between US and Chinese negotiators next month signals an easing in trade tensions.

Top headlines-- >> Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari told Business Standard in an interview that he plans to relook at the financing models, and eyes raising Rs 85,000 crore through road asset monetisation over the next five to six years. >> Amalgamation of 10 public sector banks likely to take place on April 1, 2020. >> Finance ministry asks govt departments, PSUs to expedite capital expenditure. Market cues --- Investors may look at global developments to steer through the day. That apart, stock-specific action, oil price movement, and the Rupee's trajectory could influence investor sentiments. Trends on SGX Nifty suggest a positive start for the domestic indices on Friday, in-line with Asian peers. Global equity markets welcomed the United States and China's decision to hold high-level talks early in October, raising hopes for substantial progress in de-escalating the long, bitter trade conflict between the two. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan added 0.2%, Australian stocks gained 0.5%, South Korea's KOSPI rose 0.3 %, and Japan's Nikkei advanced 0.6%. During the overnight trade on Thursday, the Dow Jones added 1.4%, the S&P 500 climbed 1.3% and Nasdaq rose 1.75%. Back home, Benchmark indices ended Thursday's session on a flat note. The S&P BSE Sensex lost 80 points or 0.22% to end at 36,644 level, while the Nifty50 settled at 10,848-mark, up 3 points or 0.03% Stocks that will remain in focus-- >> Reliance Industries could show up-move today after it commercially launched Jio Fiber yesterday. In the welcome officer a Jio Fiber user gets TV, 4K set-top box, OTT app subscription and unlimited data and voice/video calling. >> IDBI Mutual Fund moves Bombay High Court against cash-strapped DHFL >> Adani Ports will open its equity shares buy-back today which will close on September 20. Here is a stock recommendation by Anand Rathi Shares and Stock Brokers --  The brokerage recommends buying ACC, for the target of Rs 1,508 with a stop loss of Rs 1,430.

National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has been in the news recently with both the Prime Minister’s Office and the CAG flagging some concerns. The financial stress that the NHAI is under, forced the PMO to suggest remedial measures. It asked NHAI to improve its operational performance and monetise its road assets. The CAG also raised red flags about the costs and sought a cost audit. CAG also wanted to curtail NHAI’s debt-raising measures as it was also debt for the government. What are the issues raised by PMO and the CAG? Why has the NHAI’s debt risen so much? Where do things stand today? To know all about the issue, listen to this podcast where Business Standard’s infra editor, Jyoti Mukul explains the concerns regarding NHAI.

Headlines: >> Markets end Thursday's session on a flat note, Sensex sheds 80 pts; >> No plan to ban petrol, diesel vehicles, says Union Minister Nitin Gadkari; and  >> JSW Steel's Rs 19,700-crore bid for Bhushan Power & Steel gets NCLT nod Ignoring firm global cues, the domestic equity market ended Thursday's session on flat note. The S&P BSE Sensex lost 80 points or 0.22 per cent to end at 36,644 while NSE's Nifty50 index settled at 10,848, up 3 points or 0.03 per cent with 34 constituents advancing and 16 declining.  On the sectoral front, realty stocks bled the most, followed by financial services counters. The Nifty Realty index slipped nearly 2 per cent to end at 256 levels. On the contrary, auto stocks gained the most.  In the broader market, the S&P BSE MidCap index ended at 13,283 levels, up 19 points, or 0.15 per cent, and the S&P BSE SmallCap index gained 90 points or 0.72 per cent to settle at 12,496. Market breadth remained in favour of bulls as out of 2,585 companies traded on BSE, 1,451 advanced and 989 declined while 145 scrips remained unchanged.  Shares of Oil and Natural Gas (ONGC) ended over 5 per cent higher after India's foreign secretary said on Wednesday that India and Russia are targeting $30 billion of annual trade by 2025. The two countries announced deals in sectors including energy, defence and shipping after a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an economic forum in Russia.  Tata Motors zoomed over 8 per cent after its British arm Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) said it plans to launch 30 new or revamped vehicles in China in the next two years, seeking to build on a recent recovery in sales in the world's biggest auto market. European shares jumped to fresh one-month highs after news of US-China talks set for early October raised hopes of a de-escalation in their trade war before it further damages the world economy. The rally followed gains in Asia, with MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan gaining as much as 1.08 per cent to reach its highest since August 2. US stock futures reversed early losses and rose 0.5 per cent.

Trends on SGX Nifty suggest that domestic indices are likely to trade in the positive territory on Thursday as sentiment remained buoyed across Asian markets. Market players are expected to track global cues, stock-specific action, oil price movement, and the Rupee's trajectory today. Asian stocks perked up during the early morning trade on Thursday, as apparent progress in the political crises in Britain and Hong Kong gave investor confidence a shot in the arm. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.24%, while Japan's Nikkei was trading 1.5% higher. South Korea's Kospi, too, was up 0.95%. On Wall Street, too, indices rebounded during the overnight trade on Wednesday. The Dow Jones rose 0.91%, the S&P 500 gained 1.08%, and the Nasdaq Composite added 1.3%. In the commodities market, oil prices rose more than 4% on Wednesday, and Brent futures settled at $60.70 a barrel. Stocks that are likely to remain in focus--   >> Shares of Reliance Industries will be under investors' radar as the company will commercially roll-out Reliance Jio Fiber plans today. According to media reports, the telecom operator is likely to provide free set-top box with its every broadband connection to woo direct-to-home and cable TV customers. >> Shares of Wipro will be in focus today after the IT services company bagged an IT outsourcing contract worth around $300 million from ICICI Bank under which it would provide a comprehensive suite of services to the lender. >> India could miss its fiscal deficit target for the current financial year, despite receiving an additional dividend from the central bank, government officials told News agency Reuters. >> Moody's upgrades PNB's outlook to 'positive' from 'stable' Here is a stock recommendation by Tradebulls Securities -- The brokerage recommends BUYING Bharat Electronics at current market price, with a target price of Rs 115. Stop-loss has been placed at Rs 100. 

>> Market recovers after 2% slide in the previous session, Sensex climbs 162 points; >> Auto major Maruti to stop production at Gurugram, Manesar plants for two days; and  >> Silver opens above Rs 50,000 a kg in Mumbai, gold at Rs 39,000-plus Buying in select blue-chip counters such as HDFC twins, ICICI Bank, State Bank of India (SBI) and Infosys helped benchmark indices to settle in the positive territory on Wednesday. The broader market sentiment, however, remained subdued amid disappointing macro data, continuous decline in auto sales and weak global cues. The S&P BSE Sensex gained 162 points or 0.44 per cent to settle at 36,725, with Bharti Airtel (up 3 per cent) being the top gainer and Maruti (down 4 per cent) the biggest loser.  On NSE, the benchmark Nifty50 index closed at 10,845, up 47 points or 0.43 per cent. Out of 50 constituents, 30 advanced while 20 declined. India VIX, the volatility gauge, slipped around 5 per cent to 17.22-mark. In the broader market, the S&P BSE MidCap index added 18 points, or 0.14 per cent, to end at 13,264 levels, while the S&P BSE SmallCap index closed at 12,406, up 36 points or 0.29 per cent.  Among individual stocks, Sun Pharma ended over 3 per cent down at Rs 426.40 apiece on the BSE after reports suggested that Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has ordered a forensic audit against the company to look into allegations of financial irregularities and lapses in corporate governance standards. And, now let's take a look at the global markets -  Stocks followed a firmer Chinese lead on Wednesday after a report showed growth in the country’s service sector accelerating despite broader economic headwinds, while the pound halted its decline on hopes a no-deal Brexit may yet be averted. The Shanghai Composite Index added 0.3 per cent while the blue-chip CSI300 index gained 0.25 per cent. MSCI’s index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan snapped two days of losses and gained 0.6 per cent.