The key equity barometers traded with slight gains in early trade. Nifty opened at 22593 and hit a high of 22651 in first half hour of trade. Nifty Media, Nifty Auto and Nifty Chemicals shares advanced, while Nifty IT and Nifty Private Bank shares declined.

At 09:30 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, down 80.14 points to 72,392.19. The Nifty 50 index added 9.45 points or 0.04% to 22,529.90.

The broader market surpassed the frontline indices. The BSE 150 MidCap Index inched up 0.59% and the BSE 250 SmallCap Index advanced 1.05%.

The market breadth was healthy. On the BSE, 2933 shares gained and 1047 shares fell. A total of 266 shares were unchanged.

Nifty Media index gained 2.29% to 1589. The index has edged up 1.76% in last one month and edged lower by 0.27% over last one year. Prime Focus, moving higher 6.81%, led the gainers followed by Tips Music, gaining 3.99% and Zee Entertainmen, up 3.27%, respectively. All 10 constituents are advancing today.

Nifty Auto index climbed 1.12% to 25138. The index has recorded steep losses of 10.10% in last one month and posted modest losses of 6.50% over last one year. Tube Investments, edging up 2.79%, led the gainers followed by Bajaj Auto, adding 2.58% and Samvardh. Mothe., inching higher 1.96%, respectively. Out of 15 index constituents, 14 are reporting gains today.

Nifty IT index moved lower by 0.60%. The index has slipped by 1.17% in last one month and plunged 19.80% over last one year. Tech Mahindra, easing 4.53%, led the losers followed by Mphasis, down 0.67% and Coforge, losing 0.54%, respectively. Out of 10 index constituents, 7 are reporting loss today.

In NIFTY500, Gallantt Ispat L is the top gainer today, soaring 12.55% to Rs 567.25. The counter has posted steep losses of 24% in last one year. It recorded an average volume quantity of 15680.20 in last five sessions compared to 8925.19 over last one month.

Asian markets posted modest losses on Monday. China’s Shanghai composite is marginally lower by 0.12%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is modestly higher by 0.02%. Japan’s Nikkei 225 is slightly lower by 0.02%.