Equity indices opens in green; SBI, Sun Pharma in focus ahead of earnings

Indian equity markets on Friday opened in green on the back of positive Asian cues. The BSE benchmark Sensex jumped over 180 points at 28,043.86. While NSE's Nifty surged 40 points at 8634.75.

At 1000 hours the Sensex was trading at 28,123.55, up 264 points, or 0.95% and Nifty was trading at 8,664.80, up 73 points, or 0.85%.

On 30-share benchmark, among the top gainers were Hindustan Copper (5.16%), LIC Housing Finance Ltd (4.30%), MMTC Ltd (3.79%), Indian Bank (3.49%) and Cairn India (3.14%). Among losers were Aditya Birla Nuvo (-18.82%), City Union (-2.16%), Escorts (-1.93%), Grasim Industries (-1.87%) and Wockhardt (-1.83%).

Rupee opened higher at 66.83 per dollar as against Thursday's close of 66.84. 

Shares of State Bank of India, Sun Pharmaceuticals and Cipla will be in focus today as the companies are set to announce financial results for the quarter ended on June 30.

Asian stocks rose slightly in early Friday trade, taking a cue from Wall Street's records overnight, before switching focus to a run of economic indicators from China. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan nudged up 0.1%. It was headed to gain 1.9% on the week, having brushed a 1-year high on Wednesday, Reuters reported.