Sensex rallies 515 pts to reclaim 59,000-mark; IT, finance stocks sparkle
Equity benchmark Sensex rallied 515 points on Thursday to reclaim the 59,000-mark after a gap of four months, propelled by heavy buying in IT, banking and financial stocks amid sustained foreign fund inflows and positive Asian equities.
The 30-share BSE index ended 515.31 points or 0.88 per cent higher at 59,332.60 — its highest closing since April 8, 2022.
Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty gained 124.25 points or 124.25 per cent to close at 17,659.
Axis Bank was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, climbing 2.75 per cent, followed by Bajaj Finance, HDFC, Tech Mahindra, TCS, SBI and Wipro.
On the other hand, ITC, NTPC, HUL, Bharti Airtel, Maruti and Nestle India were among the major laggards, sliding as much as 1.56 per cent.
Market breadth was in favour of the bulls, with 19 of the 30 Sensex counters logging gains.
“Investors cheered the US inflation data for July, which came in below the estimate and raised hopes that the Federal Reserve may not be that aggressive in hiking interest rates in its next meeting. Hence, the optimism spread across Asian markets, including India where investors lapped up banking, IT and realty stocks.
“Traders have also been drawing comfort from the falling crude oil prices and FII inflows into the local shares in the last few sessions,” said Shrikant Chouhan, Head of Equity Research (Retail), Kotak Securities Ltd.
Siddhartha Khemka, Head – Retail Research, Motilal Oswal Financial Services, said commodity costs have corrected over the last few weeks, offering some respite from the record high inflation.
“India’s inflation data is due on tomorrow (Friday) which would be eyed eagerly amidst better US inflation data. The benefit of the recent moderation in commodity costs is likely to start accruing in H2 FY23E, which would boost corporate profitability.
“Thus the positive momentum in the market is likely to sustain going ahead, though bouts of volatility can’t be ruled out given mixed global cues and increasing geopolitical tensions,” he added.
Sectorally, BSE bankex, finance, IT and realty climbed up to 1.64 per cent, while FMCG, metal, auto, telecom and basic materials nursed losses.
Broader markets were up, with the BSE midcap index advancing 0.83 per cent and the smallcap gauge rising 0.52 per cent.
Elsewhere in Asia, bourses in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Seoul ended with significant gains, while Tokyo closed in the red.
Equities in Europe were trading on a negative note in mid-session deals.
Wall Street rose sharply on Wednesday after data showed that inflation in US eased more than expected in July, indicating that the Fed might be less aggressive in hiking interest rates.
Meanwhile, the international oil benchmark Brent crude was trading 0.92 per cent higher at USD 98.30 per barrel.
The rupee depreciated by 36 paise to close at 79.61 (provisional) against the US dollar on Thursday.
Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) remained net buyers in the Indian capital market as they purchased shares worth Rs 1,061.88 crore on Wednesday, as per exchange data.
