New Delhi, 29 April (H.S.): Buoyed by positive Asian markets and strategic buying at lower levels, domestic share markets ended higher today after a strong opening, though mid-session profit-taking tempered gains. Both Sensex and Nifty accelerated with sustained buying support before a selling wave around 2 PM; Sensex closed up 0.79% at 77,496.36 (609.45 points higher), while Nifty gained 0.76% at 24,177.65 (181.95 points up).
Realty, auto, FMCG, infrastructure, IT, oil & gas, pharma, banking, capital goods, metal, and tech indices advanced firmly. Media, consumer durables, and PSE indices closed weaker. Broader markets were mixed: Nifty Midcap down 0.07%, Smallcap up 0.65%.
Market strength boosted investor wealth by nearly ₹2 lakh crore—BSE-listed firms' market cap rose to ₹468.62 lakh crore (provisional) from ₹466.66 lakh crore Tuesday, yielding ₹1.96 lakh crore gains. NSE saw 2,953 active stocks: 1,406 gained, 1,547 declined; Sensex had 22/30 up, Nifty 36/50 up.
Sensex opened at 77,245.83 (+358.92), surged to 77,982.51 (+1,095.60), but shed 486.15 points amid afternoon selling to close +609.45. Nifty opened at 24,096.90 (+101.20), peaked at 24,334.70 (+339), before easing 157.05 points to end +181.95.
Top gainers: ITC (3.88%), Tech Mahindra (3.67%), Maruti Suzuki (2.83%), Coal India (2.76%), Reliance Industries (2.63%).
Top losers: Interglobe Aviation (2.19%), Dr Reddy's (1.83%), NTPC (1.36%), ICICI Bank (0.85%), Bajaj Finserv (0.83%).
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
