New Delhi, 03 November (H.S.): Indian equity benchmarks opened Tuesday's session on a strong footing and extended their gains in early trade, supported by favourable global cues and robust buying across banking, automobile and FMCG stocks. Heavyweight banking shares, particularly HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank, provided a significant boost to market sentiment, lifting both the Sensex and the Nifty to higher levels.

The buying momentum remained firm across the broader market, with both benchmark indices trading substantially higher around 10 am. The BSE Sensex was up 0.94 per cent, while the NSE Nifty had advanced more than 0.81 per cent.

The Sensex opened at 76,288.65, gaining 595.87 points, or 0.79 per cent, from its previous close. Buying intensified soon after the opening bell, with strong advances in heavyweight stocks, including HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank, providing the initial impetus. The index subsequently climbed to an intraday high of 76,425.30.

By around 10 am, the 30-share benchmark had strengthened further, trading 709.48 points, or 0.94 per cent, higher at 76,402.26.

The Nifty followed a similar trajectory, opening at 23,582.25, up 141.45 points, or 0.60 per cent. Sustained buying in banking, automobile and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) stocks helped the index gather momentum, taking it to an early high of 23,640.10.

At around 10 am, the 50-share index was trading at 23,630.85, registering a gain of 190.05 points, or 0.81 per cent.

Market breadth remained decisively positive during the morning session. A total of 2,790 stocks were actively traded, of which 2,232 advanced, while 558 declined. Among the Sensex constituents, 21 stocks were trading in positive territory and nine were in the red. On the Nifty, 34 constituents registered gains, while 16 traded lower.

InterGlobe Aviation, the parent company of IndiGo, emerged as the leading gainer among major stocks, surging 3.51 per cent. Shriram Finance followed with a gain of 2.91 per cent, while HDFC Bank advanced 2.56 per cent. Asian Paints rose 1.91 per cent and Tata Consumer Products gained 1.81 per cent.

However, several stocks remained under selling pressure despite the broader market rally. Apollo Hospitals Enterprise declined 1.22 per cent, followed by Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, which fell 1.21 per cent. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Reliance Industries were both down 1.12 per cent, while Max Healthcare Institute slipped 0.29 per cent.

The strong opening followed an impressive performance in the previous trading session on Monday, when domestic equities had registered substantial gains. The Sensex surged 1,233.25 points, or 1.66 per cent, to close at 75,692.78, while the Nifty climbed 387.70 points, or 1.68 per cent, to settle at 23,440.80.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar