Stock Market Today: Sensex Surges 759 Points; Nifty Around 22,100. IT Stock Shines; Wipro Up 6 Per Cent

Stock update: On the 30-share Sensex platform, Wipro, which soared 14 per cent intraday, closed 6 per cent higher, followed by HCLTech, Infosys, Airtel, TechM, HDFC Bank

The two key equity benchmarks, Sensex and Nifty, on Monday closed higher for the fifth consecutive session, hitting fresh record highs following rally in IT stocks. The S&P BSE Sensex, which topped the 73,000-mark for the first time, logged a lifetime high of 73,402. It finally closed at 73,328, up 759 points. On the other hand, the NSE Nifty50 surpassed the 22,000-mark intraday and closed the day at 22,097, up 203 points.

On the 30-share Sensex platform, Wipro, which soared 14 per cent intraday, closed 6 per cent higher, followed by HCLTech, Infosys, Airtel, TechM, HDFC Bank. On the down side, Bajaj twins, L&T, Tata Motors, Tata Steel, Asian Paints, Axis Bank emerged losers.

About 1,787 shares advanced; 1,609 shares declined, while 78 shares remain unchanged.

In the broader markets, the BSE Midcap and BSE Smallcap settled 0.67 per cent and 0.11 per cent higher, respectively.

Sectorally, except metal all other indices ended in the green. Nifty IT index gained 2 per cent, followed by up to 1 per cent rally in the Nifty Pharma, PSU Bank, and Bank indices.

In the previous session on Friday, the S&P BSE Sensex closed at 72,568, up 847 points while the NSE Nifty50 settled 247 points higher to 21,895.

In Asian markets, Seoul, Tokyo and Shanghai settled in the green, while Hong Kong ended marginally lower. European markets were trading mostly lower. The US markets ended on a muted note on Friday.

Global oil benchmark Brent crude declined 0.29 per cent to $78.06 a barrel.

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 340.05 crore on Friday, according to exchange data.

Meanwhile, the rupee strengthened for the ninth consecutive session to settle with a gain of 6 paise to 82.89 (provisional) against the US dollar on Monday, driven by a rally in the domestic equity markets. At the interbank foreign exchange, the local currency opened at 82.82 and traded between 82.77 and 82.91 against the greenback during intra-day deals.

The unit finally settled at 82.89 (provisional) against the dollar, registering a gain of 6 paise over its previous close amid a bullish trend in domestic equities, wherein benchmark indices climbed to lifetime highs. On Friday, the rupee settled with a gain of 6 paise to 82.95 against the US dollar.