Share Market Today: Sensex Rises 693 Points; Nifty Tops 22,800. Realty, IT, PSU Banks Gain

Share Market Today: On the 30-share Sensex platform, TechM became the lead gainer, up 4.27 per cent, followed by HCLTech, SBI, Infosys, NTPC, and TCS

Share market today: The two key equity benchmarks, Sensex and Nifty, on Thursday settled higher for a second straight day amid volatility as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is poised to form the government for the third consecutive term. The BSE Sensex jumped 692 points to close at 75,075. On the other hand, the NSE Nifty50 settled at 22,821, rising 201 points.

Stock update

On the 30-share Sensex platform, TechM became the lead gainer, up 4.27 per cent, followed by HCLTech, SBI, Infosys, NTPC, and TCS. On the down side, HUL, Asian Paints, M&M, Nestle, IndusInd Bank, Axis Bank emerged losers.

In the broader markets, the BSE Midcap index gained 2.3 per cent, while the BSE Smallcap index advanced 3.3 per cent.

Sectoral update

Sectorally, except pharma and FMCG, all other sectoral indices closed in the green, with PSU Bank, IT, Realty gained 3-5 per cent. Nifty Realty jumped 4.7 per cent, Nifty PSU Bank gained 2.9 per cent, and Nifty IT rose 2.8 per cent.

In the previous session on Wednesday, the BSE Sensex soared 2,303 points to close at 74,382, while the NSE Nifty50 closed at 22,620, rising 736 points.

Global update

In Asian markets, Tokyo, and Hong Kong settled with gains, while Shanghai ended lower. European markets were trading with gains. US markets ended in positive territory on Wednesday.

Global oil benchmark Brent crude climbed 0.09 per cent to $78.43 a barrel.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 5,656.26 crore on Wednesday, according to exchange data.

Rupee falls 5 paise

The rupee depreciated 5 paise to settle at 83.49 (provisional) against the US dollar on Thursday due to foreign capital outflows and rising crude oil prices overseas. Forex traders said a weak American currency and firm trend in the equity markets supported the local currency even as investors remained concerned ahead of the RBI's monetary policy decision to be announced on Friday.

At the interbank foreign exchange market, the local unit opened at 83.40 and touched the intra-day low of 83.50 against the greenback during the session. The local unit finally settled at 83.49 (provisional) against the American currency, down 5 paise from its previous close. On Wednesday, the rupee settled 7 paise higher at 83.44 against the dollar.