New Delhi, 03 July (H.S.): The domestic equity market closed higher for the third consecutive trading session on Friday, supported by positive global cues. Although profit booking during the second half of the session trimmed early gains, both benchmark indices managed to remain in positive territory throughout the day. By the close of trade, the BSE Sensex had gained 0.34 per cent, while the NSE Nifty advanced 0.39 per cent.

Realty, information technology and pharmaceutical stocks witnessed strong buying throughout the session. Metal, infrastructure and FMCG indices also ended higher. On the other hand, PSU banking, energy and automobile stocks faced the sharpest selling pressure. Media, consumer durables, public sector enterprises, oil and gas, and capital goods indices also finished in negative territory.

The broader market remained under pressure, with the Nifty Midcap Index ending 0.19 per cent lower. In contrast, the Nifty Smallcap Index managed to close with a marginal gain of 0.04 per cent.

The market rally added more than Rs 94,000 crore to investors' wealth during the session. The total market capitalisation of companies listed on the BSE rose to a provisional Rs 480.20 lakh crore at the close of trading, compared with Rs 479.26 lakh crore in the previous session. As a result, investors gained approximately Rs 94,000 crore in a single trading day.

A total of 4,249 stocks were actively traded on the BSE. Of these, 2,182 advanced, 1,879 declined, while 188 remained unchanged. On the NSE, 2,993 stocks were traded, with 1,577 ending higher and 1,416 closing lower. Among the 30 Sensex constituents, 16 finished in the green and 14 ended lower. Of the 50 Nifty stocks, 31 advanced while 19 declined.

The BSE Sensex opened 650.22 points higher at 78,152.34. After opening, the index witnessed volatile trading and climbed to an intraday high of 78,157.52, up 655.40 points, supported by buying interest. However, profit booking later erased a significant portion of the gains. Around 1 p.m., selling pressure intensified, dragging the index down by 447.51 points from its opening level to an intraday low of 77,710.01. The Sensex eventually settled 261.79 points higher at 77,763.91.

Similarly, the NSE Nifty opened 199.95 points higher at 24,375.65. The index remained volatile throughout the day as buyers and sellers battled for control, with sellers dominating much of the afternoon session. Heavy selling after 1 p.m. pulled the index more than 120 points below its opening level to an intraday low of 24,252.35. Late buying during intraday settlement helped the benchmark recover modestly, allowing it to close 95.15 points higher at 24,270.85.

Among the blue-chip gainers, HCL Technologies surged 5.65 per cent, followed by Max Healthcare (2.31 per cent), Apollo Hospitals (2.27 per cent), Bajaj Finserv (2.15 per cent) and Dr. Reddy's Laboratories (2.11 per cent).

The top laggards included Axis Bank, which declined 1.50 per cent, followed by Mahindra & Mahindra (1.21 per cent), State Bank of India (1.10 per cent), Larsen & Toubro (0.81 per cent) and Tech Mahindra (0.79 per cent).

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar