Infosys, TCS, Sun Pharma, Bharti Infratel and HPCL are among top gainers on key indices, whereas Hero MotoCorp, UPL, Vedanta, Bajaj Auto and HDFC are major losers.   Here are the latest updates from the markets

Indian benchmark indices BSE Sensex and NSE’s Nifty 50 traded little changed,  taking cues from Asian markets. The Sensex rose over 120 points in the opening trade led by gains in IT stocks such as Infosys and TCS. However, losses in auto and metal stocks dragged the indices lower. Asian stocks were mixed as investors weighed reports that US President Donald Trump has discussed firing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, and the impact of a partial US government shutdown. Stocks slid in Hong Kong and South Korea, while shares rose in China and Australia. Oil prices dipped half a percent ahead of the Christmas holiday break, adding to last week’s steep losses on concerns about a global oversupply.

10.10 am IST
Markets update: Sensex, Nifty trade lower
The BSE Sensex traded 97.38 points, or 0.27%, down at 35,644.69, and the Nifty 50 fell 44.65 points, or 0.42%, to 10,709.35. The BSE midcap and smallcap indices fell 0.6%. Sixteen out of 19 sectoral indices on BSE traded lower, with realty falling most at over 2%. Basic materials, consumption, auto and metal fell over 1%. On the other hand, FMCG, IT and teck advanced.

9.45 am IST
PVR, Inox Leisure trade higher as govt reduces tax on movie tickets Shares of multiplex operators rose after the GST Council on Saturday reduce the tax
on movie tickets to 18% from previous 28%. Cinema had remained part of the highest tax slab, wherein film tickets whose price exceeded Rs 100 were subject to 28% GST,  while those below the rate worked with 18%, resulting in high ticket prices for movie-goers. PVR shares rose as much as 2.8% to Rs 1607.25, and Inox Leisure shares jumped 4.56% to Rs 249.90 per share.

9.27 am IST
Infosys shares rise 2% on share buyback reports
Infosys shares rose as much as 2.02% to Rs 658.80 after the Times of India reported that the company is likely to consider a proposal for a second share buyback of $1.60 billion very soon to cheer up investor sentiments in which some founding family members could tener their shares.

source: livemint.com