New Delhi, 19 December (H.S.): Indian equity benchmarks opened strongly Friday morning, with sustained buying propelling the Sensex and Nifty to fresh intraday highs amid broad-based gains across major stocks.

Benchmarks Climb Amid Robust Buying Momentum

The BSE Sensex debuted at 84,756.79, up 274.98 points, and swiftly climbed to 85,014.83 within the first half-hour before minor profit-taking trimmed gains; by 10:00 AM, it traded 502.79 points higher at 84,984.60, reflecting a 0.60% advance.

Similarly, the NSE Nifty launched at 25,911.50, gaining 95.95 points, peaked at 25,970.40 early on, and stood at 25,957.55—a 142-point or 0.55% rise—by 10:00 AM as traders navigated ongoing volatility.

Gainers Dominate: RIL, Airtel Lead Charge

Heavyweights like Max Healthcare, Reliance Industries, Jio Financial, Bajaj Finserv, and Bharti Airtel posted gains from 0.18% to 2%, fueling the rally, while Shriram Finance, Tech Mahindra, HDFC Bank, Shipping Corporation, and HCL Tech slipped 0.12% to 1.25%.

Of 2,149 active stocks, 1,609 traded green versus 540 in red; Sensex's 30 components saw 25 advancers against five decliners, with Nifty's 50 stocks featuring 45 gainers and five laggards.

Recovery Builds Post Thursday's Muted Close

Following Thursday's tepid finish—Sensex down 77.84 points or 0.09% at 84,481.81, Nifty off 3 points or 0.01% at 25,815.55—Friday's vigor signals renewed investor confidence in domestic markets.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar