Sensex ends 222 pts higher, Nifty tops 15,150; RIL gains 4%, PSB stocks dip

Stock market updates: Frontline indices snapped their 2-day losing streak and ended higher in a lacklustre trade on Thursday amid stock-specific bets by investors. Volatility index, India VIX, eased around 4 per cent to end at 23 levels.

Propelled by over 4 per cent gain in Reliance Industries, and over 1 per cent gain each in HUL, Bajaj Finance, and Bharti Airtel, the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex advanced 222 points, or 0.43 per cent, at close to settle at 51,531.5 level on the BSE. RIL, Sun Pharma, Bajaj Finance, Nestle India, and Power Grid ended the day as top gainers on the Sensex while Titan (down 2.45 per cent), L&T, HDFC Bank, ITC, and ONGC were the top laggards.

Around 18 of the 30 constituents ended the day in the green on the Sensex. Overall, 1,725 stocks advanaced on the BSE, 1,261 declined, and 140 remained unchanged. 

NSE's Nifty50, on the other hand, ended the day at 15,173-mark, up 67 points or 0.44 per cent.

In the broader markets, smallcap stocks were leading from the front. The S&P BSE SmallCap index outperformed today with 1.06 per cent gain on the BSE while the S&P BSE MidCap index settled 0.45 per cent higher.

On the sectoral front, Nifty PSU Bank index declined over 1 per cent on the NSE, followed by losses in the Nifty Auto index (down 0.4 per cent), and the Nifty Realty index (down 0.24 per cent). On the upside, the Nifty FMCG index and the Nifty Metal index closed 0.85 per cent higher each.

Global markets

Asian shares rested at record highs on Thursday as investors digested recent meaty gains, while bulls were sustained by the promise of endless free money after a benign reading on U.S. inflation and a dovish Federal Reserve outlook.

Adding to the torpor was a lack of liquidity as markets in China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan were all on holiday.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan added 0.1 per cent. Japan's Nikkei was shut after ending at a 30-year peak on Wednesday, while Australia's main index held near an 11-month top.

(With inputs from Reuters)

4:17 PM

MARKET CLOSING COMMENT :: Deepak Jasani, Head of Research, HDFC Securities

Indian benchmark equity indices closed higher on February 11 after consolidating in the previous two sessions. Nifty opened lower but quickly rose in the first half hour of trade and later remained in a range. At close, the Nifty was up 66.80 points or 0.44% at 15,173.30.

 

Volumes on the NSE were below recent average suggesting lower institutional interest at these levels. Among sectors, All sectors except Auto and PSU Bank ended in the positive. Metals, FMCG and IT indices rose the most.

 

Nifty rose mildly on Feb 11 after a sideways move on the previous two sessions. It could remain in the 15064-15257 band in the near term and a breakout either side could see action in that direction. 

4:07 PM

TECH VIEW :: Ashis Biswas, Head of Technical Research, CapitalVia Global Research

Some lackluster movement witnessed in the market. Nifty 50 Index is still trading below the resistance level of 15250. The breakout above 15250 is critical for the Index to regain its upside momentum. Therefore,  the short-term traders should use the rally to exit while buying any dip towards the support level around 14900-14800. The momentum observed in the indicators like RSI, MACD to continue showing divergence, supporting the view that the market is likely to take a pause around this level and stay in a range.

4:01 PM

TECH VIEW :: Rohit Singre, senior technical analyst at LKP Securities

Index closed a day on a positive note at 15173 with gains of half a per cent, the index has formed a range and it’s trading within the same range last four sessions. The overall range for nifty is coming at 15k on the downside and 15250 on the higher side so unless we see either side breakout final direction will not be clear and index may trade sideways in the same range

4:00 PM

MARKET CLOSING COMMENT :: Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services

The domestic market closed with slight gains after its range-bound rally, tracking gains in index heavyweights and positive European & Asian markets. The upward movement in the market was supported by energy, telecom and FMCG stocks with small caps outperforming. Dip in January auto retail sales numbers pushed the sectoral index into the negative territory while PSU banks also remained under pressure

3:59 PM

Market stats :: BSE m-cap reaches Rs 204-trillion mark

3:58 PM

SECOR WATCH :: Metal stocks dip

3:57 PM

SECTOR WATCH :: PSB stocks slip in a strong market

3:55 PM

CHANGE OF GUARD :: Magma Fincorp ends 10% higher on Poonawalla buy out

3:51 PM

OFF LOWS :: Bata India erases losses partially

3:49 PM

STOCK ALERT :: Route Mobile remains locked in 20% upper circuit at close

3:48 PM

STOCK ALERT :: Titan Company ends 2.5% lower on margin concerns

3:45 PM

Sectoral trends on NSE :: PSBs skid, Metal stocks advance

3:40 PM

Sensex Heatmap :: RIL helps index erase losses

3:35 PM

CLOSING BELL

Propelled by over 4 per cent gain in Reliance Industries, and over 1 per cent gain each in HUL, Bajaj Finance, and Bharti Airtel, the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex advanced 222 points, or 0.43 per cent, at close to settle at 51,531.5 level on the BSE. 
 

NSE's Nifty50, on the other hand, ended the day at 15,173-mark, up 67 points or 0.44 per cent.

3:25 PM

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