New Delhi, May 14 (H.S): The stock market closed with a slight gain on the third trading day of the week, Wednesday, despite fluctuations in trading due to easing retail and wholesale inflation. The Sensex of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) rose by 182.34 points, or 0.22 percent, to close at 81,330.56. Meanwhile, the Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) increased by 88.55 points, or 0.36 percent, to close at 24,666.90.

Among the companies included in the 30-share Sensex, Tata Motors, ITC, Tech Mahindra, Maruti, Mahindra and Mahindra, Infosys, IndusInd Bank, HCL Tech, Tata Consultancy Services, and Bharti Airtel recorded gains. During trading, the stock of telecom company Airtel rose by one percent. On the other hand, the shares that remained in loss included Asian Paints, Tata Motors, Kotak Mahindra Bank, NTPC, and Power Grid.

Among other major Asian stock markets, South Korea's KOSPI, China's Shanghai Composite Index, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng saw gains, while Japan's Nikkei faced losses. In major European markets, most showed a downward trend during afternoon trading. The global oil benchmark, Brent crude, declined by 1.13 percent to $65.88 per barrel.

One day earlier, on Tuesday, the Sensex had fallen by 1,281.68 points, or 1.55 percent, closing at 81,148.22. Similarly, the Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) slid by 346.35 points, or 1.39 percent, to close at 24,578.35.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar