Sensex ends up 91 points at 20,032

Markets ended on a positive note but volatility ruled the roost on expectations of a rate hike from credit policy next week. Sensex flip flopped in a 300 points range, the benchmark index opened at 19,986 and touched a low of 19,768 and a high of 20,080.

The Sensex closed at 20,032, up 91 points, the Nifty closed up 30 points at 6018.

Asian markets were buffeted on earnings concerns in Tokyo and Seoul, while AIG, an arm of American International Group Inc continued its decent run after the sparkling debut in Hong Kong.

Investors across the globe were nervous on the amount of quantitative easing."The quantum and size of quantitative easing is still not clear, but if the US Federal Reserve will buy bonds worth a trillion dollars, emerging markets like will see huge fund inflows,

"Tejas Doshi, Vice President - Research, Sushil Finance said. Japan's Nikkei Share Average fell 1.7%, South Korea's Kospi Composite declined 1.3%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index dipped down 1.3% and China's Shanghai Composite fell 0.6% European bourses were also trading mixed on anticipating of US third quarter GDP data.

In India, investors stayed to the sidelines for the most part of the day. Technical Analyst, Devangshu Dutta said, "Nifty has seen a recovery till around 6025 – likely to hit resistance there. Expect the index to trage in a range of 5950-6025."

Recovery in the last leg of trade was led by ICICI Bank. The largest private sector lender zoomed 7% contributing 104 puts to the Sensex after it reported better-than-expected results, net profit surged 18.8%.

From the banking space, Axis Bank rose 1.4%, followed by Canara and Federal Bank, up 0.5% and 0.3% each. 

Rate sensitive sectors were jittery on expecations of a moderate rate hike."Looking at the inflation scenario and considering that RBI has been quite proactive in managing the same, expect atleast 25 bps rate hike in the upcoming credit policy, and possibly about 50 bps rate hike over the next three – six months," Doshi said.

Realty index was down over 1%. Peninsula Land slipped 3.5%, Indiabulls Real Estate dropped 3.2% and DB Realty fell 3.2%.

Marketmen continue to bet on the India growth story. "If the investors have one to two year view, companies in sectors like auto ancillary, PSU banks, consumer durables, fertilizer, agriculture, pharmaceutical, especially the domestic branded generic business businesses could be looked at,"Doshi said.

On the Sensex, Reliance Industries surged 1.2% on expectations of a strong profit growth in the September quarter, ITC rose 2.3% and Maruti Suzuki zoomed 1.9%. Hindalco, down 2.8%, Tata Motors, down 2.6% and Tata Steel fell 2.4% were the top losers on the Benchmark.

Broader markets ended in the red, midcap fell 0.9% and smallcap fell 1.5%. Market breadth was negative, 865 stocks advanced for 2137 declining stocks.