Equity market ended firm on Wednesday, with the S&P BSE Sensex closing over 200 points higher, powered by financials and energy stocks.
The S&P BSE Sensex remained rangebound for most of the day but witnessed a late surge to end at 37,752, up 217 points or 0.58 per cent. Blue-chips like IndusInd Bank, Yes Bank, Reliance and Axis Bank were among the chief contributors. The 50-share index, Nifty50 on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) had a humbler day, but still added 41 points, or 0.4 per cent, to close at 11,341.70.
In the broader market, the S&P BSE Midcap index ended 64.91 points, or 0.43 per cent lower at 15,127.93, while the S&P BSE SmallCap index ended at 14,874.69, down 45.81, or 0.31 per cent.
BUZZING STOCKS
Among individual stocks, HDFC Bank zoomed over 2.5% to end at 2,226.10 on the back of heavy volumes. On the other hand, SpiceJet slipped more than 2 per cent to Rs 77.15 after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India’s aviation regulator, grounded Boeing 737 MAX planes following the fatal crash of a plane of the same model in Ethiopia that killed 157 people.
Among sectoral indices, the Nifty Bank index gained 1.64 per cent higher with IndusInd Bank and Yes Bank being the top gainers. The Nifty PSU Bank index also climbed nearly 1.64 per cent led by gains in Canara Bank and J&K Bank.
GLOBAL MARKETS
Asian shares drifted lower on Wednesday as a risk-off mood settled on markets. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan eased 0.45 per cent in slow trade. Japan's Nikkei led the retreat with a fall of 1.2 per cent as data showed domestic machinery orders fell in January at the fastest pace in four months.
(With inputs from Reuters))