Stock Market Close Highlights today, Friday, October 18: After starting weak, India stock markets staged a smart recovery, thanks to a firm rally in bank and financial shares. The BSE Sensex snapped its three-day losing run to close 218 points, or 0.27 per cent, higher at 81,224.75 level. The Nifty50, too, ended at 24,854.05, up 104.16 points or 0.42 per cent.
Most of these gains were contributed by Axis Bank (up 5.6 per cent) on the Sensex, followed by ICICI Bank (2.8 per cent), HDFC Bank, Reliance Industries, SBI, and Tata Motors. Percentage gain-wise, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, Tata Steel, TaMo, NTPC, JSW Steel, SBI, Sun Pharma, Adani Ports, and Bajaj Finserv were top Sensex gainers today.
The benchmarks, however, ended off the day's high amid losses in Infosys (down 4.4 per cent), Asian Paints, Nestle India, Tech M, HUL, Titan Company, and FMCG. The Sensex hit an intrady high of 81,391.15 today, and the Nifty hit 24,886.20
In the broader markets, the BSE MidCap index added 0.21 per cent, but the BSE SmallCap slipped 0.16 per cent.
Among sectors, the Nifty Private Bank index advanced 1.9 per cent, the Nifty Metal index 1.57 per cent, and the Nifty Bank 1.57 per cent. On the contrary, the Nifty IT index slipped 1.47 per cent and the Nifty FMCG index 0.51 per cent.
 "Market Highlights: Sensex snaps 3-day losing run, gains 218 pts; Axis Bank up 5%, Infosys down 4%")
