New Delhi, 21 August (H.S.): Domestic equity markets remained volatile during early trading on Friday. The market opened on a firm note, but profit-booking soon after the opening pushed both the Sensex and Nifty into negative territory. However, buying activity gathered momentum within the first 20 minutes, leading to a recovery in both benchmark indices. By 10 am, the Sensex was trading 0.09 per cent higher, while the Nifty had gained 0.05 per cent.

The BSE Sensex opened 163.35 points, or 0.21 per cent, higher at 77,701.07. Selling pressure immediately after the opening dragged the index more than 250 points below its opening level within the first 20 minutes, taking it to an intraday low of 77,445.86 and into negative territory. Thereafter, renewed buying support helped the index recover. Amid continued buying and selling, the Sensex was trading at 77,605.30 at 10 am, up 67.58 points, or 0.09 per cent.

Similarly, the NSE Nifty began the session 52.20 points, or 0.22 per cent, higher at 24,284.05. Profit-booking soon after the opening caused the index to slip nearly 80 points from its opening level to an intraday low of 24,206.80, pushing it into the red. Subsequently, active buying triggered a recovery, and the index regained some of its lost ground. At 10 am, the Nifty was trading at 24,243.75, up 11.90 points, or 0.05 per cent.

A total of 2,824 stocks were actively traded in the stock market so far. Of these, 1,713 stocks were trading in positive territory, while 1,111 were in the red. Among the 30 Sensex constituents, 13 stocks were trading higher with buying support, while 17 remained under selling pressure. Similarly, 23 of the 50 Nifty constituents were trading in positive territory, while 27 were trading lower.

Among the major stocks, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Bharat Electronics, HDFC Bank, Hindalco Industries and Power Grid Corporation were trading with gains ranging from 1.82 per cent to 0.70 per cent by 10 am. On the other hand, shares of InterGlobe Aviation, Grasim Industries, Titan Company, Apollo Hospitals and Bajaj Auto were trading lower, with declines ranging from 1.08 per cent to 0.64 per cent.

In the previous trading session on Thursday, the Sensex had closed 628.04 points, or 0.82 per cent, higher at 77,537.72. The Nifty had also ended the session on a strong note, gaining 153.55 points, or 0.64 per cent, to close at 24,231.85.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar