Mumbai, Jan 8 (IANS): Indian equities markets made a positive start to 2012, with a benchmark index moving up 394 points in the first week of trade, helped by dropping food inflation and expectations of better economic numbers in the coming weeks.Globally, markets gained as latest data showed an improvement in Chinese manufacturing growth and lowest joblessness rate in three years in the US.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) rose 2.55 percent or 393.88 points points in the weekly trade.
At the National Stock Exchange, the 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty moved up 2.8 percent or 129.8 points to close the week at 4,754.1 points.
Both benchmarks had slipped by a staggering 24 percent in 2011.
During the week under review, broader market indices too gained with the BSE 500 index rising 2.83 percent. The BSE midcap index went up by 3.17 percent, while the BSE smallcap index rose 3.81 percent.
"Positive global markets, a dip in food inflation and expectations of relatively better economic numbers in the first fortnight boosted sentiments. Hopes of constructive talks between Germany and France on the European issue also helped markets move up," said Dipen Shah, head, fundamental research, Kotak Securities.
Major Sensex gainers during the week were: Tata Motors, up 12.5 percent at Rs.203.55; ICICI Bank, up 8 percent at Rs.745.45; L&T, up 7.6 percent at Rs.1,081.45 and Coal India, up 6.6 percent at Rs.319.80.
Losers included Bajaj Auto, down 9.6 percent at Rs.1,448.05; Hero MotoCorp, down 9 percent at Rs.1,729.80; DLF, down 5.8 percent at Rs.176.60 and M&M, down 5.2 percent at Rs.654.25.
Most other Asian markets closed a mixed bag although investors took some hopes from the rising factory output in China.
For the week, the Japanese Nikkei closed 0.77 percent lower at 8,390.35 points, while the Chinese Shanghai composite index saw a bit of profit booking and shed 1.64 percent down at 2,163.39 points.
However, Hong Kong's Hang Seng moved up 0.86 percent and ended at 18,593.06 points.
Some European markets managed to rise even as traders cautiously eyed upcoming German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy's talks to tame the Euro zone debt crisis.
Britain's FTSE 100 closed 1.39 percent up at 5,649.68 points Friday, while the German DAX gained 2.71 percent to end at 6,057.92 points. The French CAC 40, however, slipped 0.71 percent to close at 3,137.36 points.
In the US markets were enthused by data which showed the unemployment rate falling to 8.5 percent, from 8.7 percent in November -- evidence of acceleration in the U.S. economy.
For the week, the US Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 1.17 percent up at 12,359.92 points, while the S&P 500 index closed 1.61 percent higher at 1,277.81 points.
The Nasdaq moved up 2.65 percent to end at 2,674.22 points.