The key equity barometers traded with limited gains in early trade. Nifty opened at 23335 and hit a high of 23361 in first half hour of trade. Nifty Realty, Nifty Pharma and Nifty Healthcare Index shares advanced, while Nifty IT shares declined.

At 09:30 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, moved higher by 163.95 points or 0.22% to 74,478.54. The Nifty 50 index posted modest gains of 57.65 points or 0.25% to 23,328.25.

The broader market failed to keep pace with frontline indices. The BSE 150 MidCap Index inched up 0.66% and the BSE 250 SmallCap Index climbed 0.80%.

The market breadth was healthy. On the BSE, 2619 shares advanced and 1110 shares fell. A total of 207 shares were unchanged.

Nifty Realty index gained 1.23% to 845. The index has shed 8.19% in last one month and edged lower by 9.23% over last one year. Lodha Developers, inching higher 3.35%, led the gainers followed by Phoenix Mills, edging up 1.54% and Godrej Propert., adding 1.51%, respectively. All 10 constituents are advancing today.

Nifty Pharma index moved higher by 0.72% to 26771. The index has risen slightly by 0.90% in last one month and soared 19.50% over last one year. Ajanta Pharma, gaining 2.92%, led the gainers followed by Zydus Lifesci., up 2.57% and Gland Pharma, gaining 1.98%, respectively. Out of 20 index constituents, 19 are reporting gains today.

Nifty IT index shed 1.38%. The index has retreated 5.36% in last one month and registered heavy losses of 20.01% over last one year. TCS, slipping 3.14%, led the losers followed by Tech Mahindra, edging lower 1.42% and LTM, down 1.41%, respectively. Out of 10 index constituents, 9 are reporting loss today.

In NIFTY500, The Bombay Burmah is the top gainer today, registering sharp gains of 6.08% to Rs 1484. The counter has recorded sharp losses of 28.53% in last one year. It recorded an average volume quantity of 3337.60 in last five sessions compared to 44019.96 over last one month.

Asian markets soared on Friday. China’s Shanghai composite is higher by 1.04%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is trading higher by 0.56%. Japan’s Nikkei 225 is firmly higher by 1.90%.