The Sensex scaled yet another lifetime peak while the Nifty closed above the key 12,000-mark after five months on Thursday as investors cheered the government’s latest reforms push and progress on US-China trade negotiations.
After hitting an intra-day record of 40,688.27, the BSE Sensex ended 183.96 points, or 0.45 per cent up at its new all-time high of 40,653.74, tracking gains in metal, energy and banking stocks. Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty ended with a gain of 46 points, or 0.38 per cent, at 12,012.05. The index last closed above the 12,000-level on June 4 this year.
Trading sentiment was bullish after the government late on Wednesday approved a Rs 25,000 crore fund for 1,600 stalled housing projects, which is expected to jumpstart consumption and give a boost to real estate and allied sectors.
Strong corporate earnings and sustained foreign fund inflows also kept domestic market sentiment upbeat, analysts said.
Further, global equities turned positive after the Chinese commerce ministry said China and the US had agreed on a plan to remove import tariffs in stages, as negotiators try to craft a trade deal.
Sun Pharma was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, spurting 3.02 per cent, after the company swung back to black in the September quarter with a net profit of Rs 1,064.09 crore.
Other winners included IndusInd Bank, RIL, ITC, Vedanta, Asian Paints, HDFC and Infosys, advancing up to 2.88 per cent. On the other hand, Yes Bank, HUL, ONGC, Tata Motors, Axis Bank, L&T and NTPC retreated up to 3.27 per cent.
“Reforms and earnings are the market drivers, the measures to support realty sector augers well for the sector to outperform. The proposed measure will help to start the recovery of stalled projects and can see a ripple effect in NBFCs, banks and cement sector.
“On global front, China agreed with US for phased removal of tariffs that has brightened hope for a trade deal and bring some cheer for markets across the globe,” said Vinod Nair, head of research at Geojit Financial Services.
Sectorally, BSE energy, metal, realty, consumer durables, telecom and healthcare indices rose up to 0.96 per cent.
On the other hand, oil and gas, capital goods, utilities and auto fell up to 0.26 per cent.
Broader BSE midcap and smallcap indices followed the benchmarks to end up to 0.69 per cent higher.
Bourses in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Seoul settled in the positive terrain following positive news on the US-China trade front.
Markets in Europe too were trading in the green in their respective early deals.
Brent crude futures, the global oil benchmark, rose 1.38 per cent to USD 62.59 per barrel.
Rupee recovers losses
Meanwhile, the Indian rupee pared its initial losses to settle flat at 70.97 against the US dollar on Thursday.
Sustained foreign fund inflows supported the domestic unit though the gains were capped by hardening crude oil prices that breached the USD 62 per barrel mark, forex brokers said.
At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened weak at 71.10 against the US dollar and during the day, it fluctuated between a high of 70.88 and a low of 71.11 to finally settle at 70.97, unchanged from its previous close.