Indian benchmark indices traded firmly higher in early trade on Wednesday, with the Sensex advancing nearly 300 points and the Nifty climbing back above the 23,300 level. The rally was led by gains in Reliance Industries, banking stocks, and select FMCG counters. However, investor sentiment remained cautious as market participants continued to keep a close watch on the escalating tensions in the Middle East.
At 9:40 hours, the 30-share benchmark index was trading at 74349.37 up by 430.61 points or by 0.58 % and then NSE Nifty was at 23339.75 up by 97.65 points or by 0.42 %.
Sensex touched intraday high of 74356.61 and intraday low of 73897.83 The NSE Nifty touched intraday high of 23350.2 and intraday low of 23217.3
The top gainers of the BSE Sensex pack were Hindustan Unilever Ltd. (Rs. 2190.20,+2.68%), Reliance Industries Ltd. (Rs. 1294.50,+1.96%), Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. (Rs. 385.50,+0.98%), Asian Paints Ltd. (Rs. 2733.90,+0.98%), Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. (Rs. 2170.45,+0.97%), among others.
The top losers of the BSE Sensex pack were Infosys Ltd. (Rs. 1164.95,-1.31%), Eternal Ltd. (Rs. 243.90,-0.71%), NTPC Ltd. (Rs. 354.05,-0.45%), Bharti Airtel Ltd. (Rs. 1791.00,-0.38%), Tata Steel Ltd. (Rs. 202.45,-0.32%), among others.
FMCG index was at 18277.28 up by 291.79 points or by 1.62%. CCL Products India Ltd. (Rs. 1206.30,+5.05%), Emami Ltd. (Rs. 402.90,+3.12%), Gillette India Ltd. (Rs. 7903.00,+2.98%), Hindustan Unilever Ltd. (Rs. 2196.00,+2.95%), Colgate-Palmolive (India) Ltd. (Rs. 2080.80,+2.82%),.
Metal index was at 41881.36 down by -474.14 points or by -1.12%. Hindalco Industries Ltd. (Rs. 1042.40,-3.26%), Hindustan Zinc Ltd. (Rs. 546.75,-3.01%), National Aluminium Company Ltd. (Rs. 376.45,-1.97%), Steel Authority of India (SAIL) Ltd. (Rs. 183.95,-1.05%), Jindal Steel Ltd. (Rs. 1140.30,-0.88%),.
The Market breadth, indicating the overall strength of the market, was weak. On BSE out of total shares traded 3498 , shares advanced were 1803 while 1505 shares declined and 190 were unchanged.