Cement stocks advanced for the second day in a row today, as cement makers refused to reduce cement prices despite the government last week banning import duties on the product. Grasim gained 3.88% to Rs 2,195, ACC rose 2.4% to Rs 739.90 and Gujarat Ambuja Cements added 2.4% to Rs 108.50.

Hindalco, BHEL, ONGC gained nearly 3% each at Rs 136, Rs 2,425, respectively. Other included Reliance Industries, Bharti Airtel, TCS and Wipro surging 2% each to Rs 1,384, Rs 761, Rs 1,217 and Rs 562, respectively. Infosys rallied 2.5% to Rs 2,044.

Decliners

Bajaj Auto was the sole decliner among the index stocks today, off 0.5% at Rs 2,297.


7:00AM Asian markets finished higher on Monday with Japan upbeat on exporters.
Asian markets finished higher on Monday. Japan''s benchmark Nikkei 225 index rose 258.98 points, or 1.48%, to finish at 17,743.76. Upbeat figures showing U.S. non-farm payroll on Friday cheered optimism about the U.S. economy, the biggest export market for Japan. The weakness of the yen also buoyed sentiment. Advancers included Advantest, climbing 4.17% and Toyota Motor rising 1.89%. Machinery stocks also advanced with Komatsu rising 4.26%.

The Korea Composite Stock Price Index in South Korea gained 16.91 points, or 1.1%, to 1,501.06, in the third record close in four sessions. Hyundai Engineering & Construction gained 3%, Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction rose 3.8% on rising order news and Doosan Infracore rallied 8.4% on increasing demand for excavators in China.

In China, banks bounced back, after declining Friday on the latest reserve requirement ratio increase, supporting the country key stock indexes to a record finish for the sixth straight session. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 2.3% to 3,398.95 and the Shenzhen Composite Index added 2.1% to 907.82.