Stocks staged a modest comeback in a highly volatile trade after two days of intense selling as investors picked up battered heavyweights with the benchmark CNX Nifty clawing back above 8200 on the National Stock Exchange (NSE).
The broader 50-share index swung sidely between a high of 8,234.55 and a low of 8,147.95 before ending at 8,200.70, showing a rise of 26.60, or 0.33 per cent.
In previous two sessions, the bellwether had shed over 150 points.
Trading sentiment was largely hit in the absence of any definite domestic cues amid holiday-thin overseas mood.
After trading range-bound throughout the day, key indices regained momentum towards the tail-end after investors picked up select beaten down frontline stocks as well as some value buying.
Elsewhere, most Asian bourses ended marginally higher in thin trade amid sluggish Japanese import data, as key markets in the region such as Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore were remained shut for Christmas holidays.
Barring FMCG, all the other sectoral indices ended in positive terrain.
Realty giant DLF and Jindal Steel topped the buying list, surging 2.16-3.46percent.
Other smart movers included HDFC, Infosys, TCS, L&T, Reliance, TechM, HCL-Tech, HDFC Bank, SBI, Sun Pharma, Kotak Bank, Sesa Sterlite, Tata Motors, Tata Steel, PNB, Power Grid Corp and Hindalco.
ITC, ICICI Bank, HUL, Maruti, ZEEL, BHEL, Ultracemco, Grasim, Cipla, Asian paints and Heromotoco were among the key index losers.
Turnover in the cash segment plummeted to Rs 9,007.21 crore compared to Rs 22,158.64 crore on Wednesday. A total of 5,569.67 lakh shares changed hands in 43,81,769 trades. The market capitalisation stood at Rs 94,38,123 crore.
