BIZNAMA
Benchmark domestic equity indices ended with modest gains today, extending their winning streak for the fifth consecutive session, driven by buying in the IT sector.
The Sensex rose 213 points, or 0.26%, to close at 81,858, while the Nifty gained 70 points, or 0.28%, to settle at 25,051. Broader market indices at the Bombay Stock Exchange also closed in positive territory, with the Mid-Cap index adding 0.4% and the Small-Cap index advancing 0.3%.
Within the Sensex pack, 15 out of 30 companies saw gains. Infosys was a top performer, surging around 3.9%, followed by TCS, which gained 2.7%, and Hindustan Unilever, which climbed around 2.5%. Conversely, Bharat Electronics Limited was a top laggard, losing 2.1%, while Bajaj Finance dropped 1.6% and Tata Motors fell 1.5%.
Among the sectoral indices at the BSE, 14 out of 21 ended in positive territory. The top gainers were Focused IT, which jumped 2.7%, IT, which rose 2.6%, and Teck, which increased over 2.2%. Among the laggards, Financial Services and Bankex both dropped 0.33% each, Healthcare dipped 0.2%, and Oil and Gas along with Energy dipped over 0.1% each.
The overall market breadth at the BSE was positive, with 2,343 companies advancing, 1,725 companies declining, and 167 companies remaining unchanged.
Sectoral Performance: IT and Teck in Spotlight
The sectoral indices on the BSE painted a largely positive picture with 14 of the 21 sectoral indices closing in green.
Top Performing Sectors:
- Focused IT soared 2.7%,
- IT Index gained 2.6%, and
- Teck (Technology) advanced over 2.2%, reflecting investor confidence in digital transformation trends and robust deal pipelines.
Underperforming Sectors:
- Financial Services and Bankex each declined 0.33%, amid cautious commentary from global credit agencies on asset quality.
- Healthcare slipped 0.2%, and
- Oil & Gas as well as Energy sectors dipped by over 0.1% amid concerns of weakening crude oil demand.
Broader Market Stays Positive
The broader market too echoed the positive sentiment:
- The BSE Mid-Cap index rose 0.4%
- The Small-Cap index added 0.3%
Market breadth remained firmly positive:
- 2,343 stocks advanced
- 1,725 stocks declined
- 167 stocks ended flat
This suggests that investor participation remains strong across market capitalizations, not just limited to large-cap indices.
