Indian share indices finished in positive territory on Wednesday, with sectoral strength in Real Estate, Information Technology and Banking driving the advance. At the close on the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the Nifty 50 was up 0.83%. The BSE Sensex 30 finished the session higher by 1.04%.
In absolute moves among large-cap names on the Nifty 50, Trent Ltd (NSE:TREN) led the gainers, rising 3.60% - an increase of 113.10 points - to close at 3,256.00. Adani Enterprises Ltd (NSE:ADEL) added 3.55% or 105.10 points to finish at 3,068.00, while Tech Mahindra Ltd (NSE:TEML) jumped 3.22% or 45.60 points to end the day at 1,461.20.
Not all heavyweights participated in the rally. Bajaj Auto Ltd (NSE:BAJA) was the session's largest mover to the downside on the Nifty, sliding 2.69% or 270.00 points to trade at 9,755.00 at the close. NTPC Ltd (NSE:NTPC) fell 2.28% or 8.30 points to 356.30, and Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. (NSE:MRTI) declined 1.78% or 239.00 points to finish at 13,212.00.
On the BSE Sensex 30, Tech Mahindra (BO:TEML) was again among the top performers, gaining 3.30% to 1,462.00. Bajaj Finance Ltd (BO:BJFN) rose 2.94% to settle at 990.60, and ICICI Bank Ltd (BO:ICBK) added 2.65% to close at 1,373.50.
Conversely on the BSE, NTPC (BO:NTPC) fell 2.18% to 356.75, Tata Steel Ltd (BO:TISC) lost 1.78% to settle at 190.20, and Maruti Suzuki (BO:MRTI) was down 1.60% to close at 13,234.35.
Market breadth was mixed. On the NSE, advancing issues marginally outnumbered decliners with 1,299 rising and 1,244 falling while 41 shares finished unchanged. On the Bombay Stock Exchange, 2,067 stocks rose, 1,930 declined and 163 were unchanged.
Adani Enterprises stood out among the session's movers, rising to 52-week highs after a 3.55% gain of 105.10 points to close at 3,068.00.
Volatility softened as the India VIX, which measures implied volatility for Nifty 50 options, declined 4.43% to 13.32.
Commodities traded lower on the session. Gold futures for August delivery fell 1.72%, a decline of 71.48, to $4,077.92 a troy ounce. Crude oil for August delivery dropped 1.65% or 1.21 to $72.00 a barrel, while the September Brent contract eased 1.48% or 1.14 to trade at $75.66 a barrel.
Currency moves were modest. USD/INR declined 0.01% to 94.73 and EUR/INR fell 0.43% to 107.35. The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.28% at 101.46.
Market data snapshot
- Nifty 50: +0.83%
- BSE Sensex 30: +1.04%
- India VIX: -4.43% to 13.32
- Gold (Aug futures): -1.72% to $4,077.92/oz
- Crude Oil (Aug): -1.65% to $72.00/bbl; Brent (Sep): -1.48% to $75.66/bbl
- USD/INR: 94.73; EUR/INR: 107.35
Overall, Wednesday's session saw participation from selected large-cap sectors alongside mixed breadth and lower implied volatility. Commodities and key currency pairs moved lower while several individual stocks recorded material intra-day swings.