Benchmark domestic equity indices ended with modest gains of over 0.3 per cent today. The Sensex rose 238 points to close at 76,742. The Nifty also added 81 points to settle at 23,963. In the broader market on the National Stock Exchange, the Midcap 100 index climbed 1.4 per cent while the Smallcap 100 index surged 1.8 per cent.
Earlier, markets opened on a positive note and traded higher despite lingering geopolitical uncertainties. However, both indices pared their early gains in the final half hour of trade amid profit-booking.
In the Sensex pack, 17 out of 30 companies registered gains. Among the top performers, Sun Pharma soared 2.7 per cent, Bharti Airtel as well as Bajaj Finserv, gained over 2.1 per cent and Indigo jumped two per cent. In contrast, Infosys shed 1.8 per cent, Maruti as well as NTPC dropped one and a half per cent, and Axis Bank lost one per cent.
In the sectoral indices on the BSE, 22 out of the 25 sectors ended in the positive zone. Among the top gainers, Reality jumped 3.7 per cent, PSU Banks rose over 1.7 per cent, and Telecommunication added nearly 1.7 per cent. In contrast, Utilities dropped 0.3 per cent, IT fell a quater of a per cent and Auto dipped 0.1 per cent.
The overall market breadth at the BSE was positive, as shares of 2 thousand 825 advanced, 1 thousand 424 companies declined, and 167 remained unchanged.
