New Delhi, 13 August (H.S.):

The domestic equity market witnessed a mixed trading session on Thursday, with the benchmark indices recovering significantly from their intraday lows but eventually closing in opposite directions. Selling pressure during the first half of the session, particularly in banking stocks, along with continued selling by foreign investors, weighed on the market. However, fresh buying emerged after 11 a.m., helping both the Sensex and Nifty recover substantially from their lows.

At the close of trading, the BSE Sensex gained 0.15 per cent, while the NSE Nifty ended 0.16 per cent lower.

The Sensex opened 145.56 points, or 0.19 per cent, higher at 78,111.91. In the opening minute, the index touched an intraday high of 78,119.39 before selling pressure intensified. Sustained selling dragged the index down by 453.50 points from its early high, taking it to an intraday low of 77,665.89 by around 10:30 a.m., representing a decline of 300.46 points, or 0.39 per cent.

Buying interest returned after 11 a.m., triggering a gradual recovery. Although bears attempted to exert selling pressure during the second half of the session, the index remained volatile. Strong buying towards the close helped the Sensex recover 414.07 points from its intraday low. It finally settled 113.61 points, or 0.15 per cent, higher at 78,079.96.

The NSE Nifty, in contrast, opened marginally lower at 24,431.60, down 4.35 points, or 0.018 per cent. Selling pressure immediately after the opening bell pushed the index 128.90 points below its opening level to an intraday low of 24,311.40, a decline of 124.55 points.

Buying resumed after 11 a.m., leading to a gradual recovery. The second half of the session witnessed considerable volatility as buyers and sellers remained engaged in a tug-of-war. Strong buying towards the end helped the Nifty recover 84.45 points from its low. However, the index still closed 40.10 points, or 0.16 per cent, lower at 24,395.85.

Among sectoral indices, FMCG stocks witnessed strong buying interest throughout the session, pushing the BSE FMCG index up 0.97 per cent. Realty, IT, automobiles, capital goods, consumer durables, healthcare and public sector enterprise indices also ended in positive territory.

On the other hand, metal stocks faced sustained selling pressure, pulling the BSE Metal index down 0.97 per cent. Banking and oil and gas indices also closed lower.

The broader market remained relatively firm, with buying interest supporting mid- and small-cap stocks. The Nifty Midcap index gained 0.15 per cent, while the Smallcap index advanced 0.27 per cent.

During the day's trading, 3,047 stocks were actively traded on the NSE. Of these, 1,489 closed with gains, while 1,558 ended lower. Among the 30 Sensex constituents, 19 stocks closed higher and 11 declined. In the Nifty 50, 28 stocks ended in positive territory, while 22 closed with losses.

Among the major gainers, Tata Consumer Products rose 2.69 per cent, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Limited (TMPV) gained 1.92 per cent, NTPC advanced 1.41 per cent, Hindustan Unilever climbed 1.41 per cent and Shriram Finance rose 1.35 per cent.

On the losing side, Hindalco Industries declined 2.99 per cent, ICICI Bank fell 1.74 per cent, UltraTech Cement slipped 1.56 per cent, Grasim Industries dropped 1.54 per cent and Power Grid Corporation declined 1.06 per cent.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar