Indian equities up on divestment plan

Mumbai: Indian equities opened decisively higher at all bourses on Friday with sentiment lifted by the government's decision a day before to ensure at least 10 percent divestment in all profitable state-run enterprises and their subsequent listing.

The 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) opened the day at 16,137.42 points, as against the previous day's close at 16,063.90 points, and soon shot up to a high of 16,280.24 points.

Some 90 minutes into trading, the key index was ruling at 16,267.43 points, with a gain of 203.53 points, ot 1.27 percent, data with the bourse showed.

All the 13 sector-specific indices were ruling in the green. Among the 30 Sensex shares, only four were ruling lower, while 24 others were trading in the positive territory.

At the National Stock Exchange, the situation was similar with the broader S&P CNX Nifty, a basket of 50 shares, ruling at 4,830.75 points, against the previous day's close at 4,765.55 points, with a gain of 65.2 points, ot 1.37 percent.