The benchmark index Nifty logged marginal gains on tail-end buying in select heavyweight shares on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) amid expiry of monthly derivative contracts today.
Buying in bluechip stocks in energy, IT, bank, pharma and FMCG counters helped the 50-share index, which crossed the 8,500-mark in intra-day trading, to end in the green for a second day in a volatile session.
Shares of mid and small-cap companies also rose. Realty, infra and metal counters saw profit-booking.
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Investors appeared in cautious mood ahead of release of the July-September economic growth data tomorrow and RBI policy review next week.
State-owned power plant equipment manufacturer BHEL was today's star performer, spurting 4.83 per cent, while PNB rose 2.99 per cent.
Meanwhile, provisional data released by stock exchanges showed that foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 181.46 crore yesterday.
The Nifty traded between a high of 8,506.75 and a low of 8,456.35 before closing at 8,494.20, a gain of 18.45 points, or 0.22 per cent, over its last close.
Other notable gainers were HUL, Hindalco, HCL Tech, Cipla, BPCL, Infosys, Hindalco and Bajaj Auto.
Prominent laggards included DLF, Bharti Airtel, Ambuja Cement, Grasim, Tata Steel, Sesa Sterlite, ONGC, Cairn and ITC.
Turnover in the cash segment climbed to Rs 20,268.53 crore from Rs 15,425.13 crore yesterday. A total of 9,849.38 lakh shares changed hands in 65,55,602 trades, while market capitalisation stood at Rs 96,52,878 crore.
