Extending gains for the second session, benchmark Nifty finished at 9,674.55 -- just a point shy of its all-time closing high -- following widespread buying in PSU bank, realty, FMCG, finance service, bank and auto sectors despite negative global cues.
Overseas, European equities dropped as investors digested minutes from key central banks and followed geopolitical events. Most Asian stocks declined after underwhelming overnight moves in the US, as investors adopted a collective wait-and-see approach.
The NSE 50-share Nifty index opened higher at 9,653.60 and moved in a range of 9,700.70 and 9,639.95 before ending at 9,674.55, up 36.95 points, or 0.38 per cent.
It saw an intra-day movement of about 60.75 points.
Sector-wise, PSU Bank rose 2.35 per cent, followed by Realty (1.76 per cent), FMCG (0.85 per cent), Finance Service (0.63 per cent), Bank (0.49 per cent), Auto (0.39 per cent), Metal (0.37 per cent) and Infra (0.30 per cent).
Energy and IT fell 0.30 per cent and 0.12 per cent, respectively.
The broader markets also made gains. The Nifty mid-cap and small-cap indices rose 0.21 per cent and 0.41 per cent, respectively.
Major index gainers were Bharti Infratel 2.89 per cent, SBI 2.22 per cent, Indiabulls Housing Finance 2.10 per cent, ITC 1.83 per cent, Coal India 1.60 per cent and Maruti 1.32 per cent.
However, Bajaj Auto fell 1.54 per cent, Eicher Motors 1.35 per cent, Hindalco 1.08 per cent, IOC 1.06 per cent and Sun Pharma 0.92 per cent.
A total of 976 scrips advanced, 722 declined, while 81 remained unchanged. Total securities that hit their price bands were 101.
Turnover in the cash segment rose to Rs 24,730.71 crore, from Rs 22,045.18 crore yesterday.
A total of 15,312.95 lakh shares changed hands in 8,946,725 trades. The market capitalisation of listed firms stood at Rs 12,648,571.61 crore.
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