Sensex up 428 on global cues; Nifty holds 12K ahead of FM presser
Indian equity markets edged higher for the third straight session as positive global cues fueled investors’ risk appetite. While metal stocks charged ahead during Friday’s trading session after US President Donald Trump said Washington and Beijing are very close to signing a “big” trade deal, auto stocks gained as Conservative leader Boris Johnson won election in the United Kingdom, paving way for Brexit-divorce deal by Janurary 31, 2020.
Besides, public sector banks (PSBs) rallied today after reports suggested that the government is considering increasing the government bond investment limit of foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) to at least 10 per cent of the outstanding, from 6 per cent now, with an aim to incorporate local bonds into global bond indices.
At close, the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex settled 428 points, or 1.05 per cent higher, at 41,009.71 level. Vedanta, Axis Bank, State Bank of India, ans Maurti Suzuki ended as the top gainers among the Sensex pack. On the contrary, Bharti Airtel, Bajaj Auto, and Asian Paints settled as top laggards.
On the NSE, the Nifty50 closed near 12,100-mark, up 114 points, or 0.95 per cent, at 12,085.70 level.
For the week, Sensex added 1.5 per cent, Nifty50 advanced 1.4 per cent, and Nifty Bank index gained 2.2 per cent.
Sectorally, all the indices ended the day with gains. Nifty PSU Bank index gained the most, up nearly 4 per cent, followed by Nifty Metal index (up 2 per cent).
In the broader market, both, the S&P BSE mid-cap and small-cap indices closed 0.89 per cent higher at 14,824.80 and 13,334.45, respectively.
Shares of real estate companies were in focus on Friday with Nifty Realty index rising 2 per cent, hitting an over five-month high led by DLF and Oberoi Realty. At 02:35 pm; Nifty Realty index was up 1.8 per cent at 287.50 points, as compared to 0.91 per cent in the benchmark Nifty 50. The realty index hit an intra-day high of 288.55, its highest level since July 5, 2019. The index is 2.4 per cent away from its 52-week high level of 295.50.
Shares of Dr Reddy’s Laboratories slipped 5 per cent to Rs 2,773 on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) on Friday after rival firm Amneal Pharma received Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) approval for generic birth-control product NuvaRing from the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA). The stock was the biggest loser among the Nifty 50 pack in an otherwise strong market.
Shares of Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) hit an all-time high of Rs 2,363, up 2 per cent on the BSE on Friday after the company completed the acquisition of HDFC Credila Financial Services. The stock surpassed has its previous high of Rs 2,357 hit on July 18, 2019. “The Corporation has completed acquisition of 11.47 million equity shares, representing 9.12 per cent of total equity of HDFC Credila for a total consideration of Rs 395 crore, from its promoter Ajay Bohora and Anil Bohora,” HDFC said in a regulatory filing.
Shares of Tata Motors surged 6 per cent to Rs 184, an over six-month high level, in intra-day trade on Friday on the back of heavy volumes. The automobile major’s stock has gained 14 per cent in the past two trading days on the BSE. It was trading at its highest level since May 28, 2019. At 10:56 am, Tata Motors had erased its early morning gain and was trading 4 per cent higher at Rs 180 on the BSE. In comparison, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 0.83 per cent at 40,916 points.
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