Markets Open Higher; Sensex Up 150 Points

Benchmark indices were trading higher on the last day of the week, even as Asian markets were mixed. The US markets on Thursday hit new record levels, on sustained buying support.

The Sensex was trading with gains of 150 points, while the Nifty was up 49 points in trade. Shares in HG Infra Engineering were up 6 per cent after the company said it has bagged a highway project worth Rs 522 crore in Haryana from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

Shares in REC too gained in trade as the government is considering extending loans from Power Finance Corp and Rural Electrification Corp to state power distribution companies to help them clear their dues to power generation plants.

Yes Bank, which was among the top Nifty losers on Thursday, managed to recover some losses and gained ground. The stock was last seen trading at Rs 49.75.

Among the Nifty stocks that lost ground were Bharti Airtel and Bajaj Auto.

Government owned banks were trading with gains, ahead of a meeting of their heads with Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman.