Share Market Today: The two key equity benchmarks, Sensex and Nifty, on Wednesday ended on a positive note amid volatility. The S&P BSE Sensex closed the day at 74,221, rising 268 points. On the other hand, the NSE Nifty50 settled at 22,598, up 69 points.
Stock update
On the 30-share Sensex platform, HUL became the top gainer, up 2.45 per cent, followed by Reliance, Infosys, Asian Paints, ITC, UltraCemco. On the down side, SBI, JSW Steel, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, Tata Steel, Tata Motors were among the laggards.
In the broader markets, the BSE Midcap index dropped 0.05 per cent while the BSE Smallcap advanced 0.18 per cent.
Sectoral update
Sectorally, Nifty Realty and FMCG indices jumped 1.4 per cent each. However, Nifty Private Bank, Financial Services, and Metal indices declined up to 0.6 per cent.
In the previous session on Tuesday, the BSE benchmark declined 52 points to settle at 73,953. The Nifty50, however, closed higher by 27 points to 22,529.
"Despite mixed global market sentiments ahead of the US Fed minutes, Indian markets exhibited a subtle positive trend. Investors are optimistic about stable Q4 earnings and easing election jitters that had previously increased volatility. Interest in the FMCG sector has risen due to the potential for an early onset of monsoon. Nevertheless, markets may underperform in the short term as they wait for the election outcome, with FIIs staying on the sidelines," Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services, said.
Global market update
In Asian markets, Shanghai settled in the positive territory while Seoul, Tokyo and Hong Kong ended lower. European markets were trading lower. Wall Street ended in the green on Tuesday.
Global oil benchmark Brent crude declined 0.84 per cent to $82.18 a barrel.
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 1,874.54 crore on Tuesday, according to exchange data.
Rupee rises 3 paise
Meanwhile, the rupee appreciated by 3 paise to settle at 83.28 (provisional) against the US dollar on Wednesday amid softening crude oil prices. Forex traders said the local unit consolidated in a narrow range weighed down by foreign fund outflows.
At the interbank foreign exchange, the domestic unit opened at 83.29 and moved in the range of 83.22 and 83.29 against the greenback during the session. The local unit finally settled at 83.28 (provisional) against the dollar, registering a rise of 3 paise from its previous close.