Stock Markets Rally for 3rd Day: HDFC Bank, Reliance Drive Gains

Mumbai, Dec 26 (PTI) Stock markets closed with gains on Tuesday, extending the winning run to the third day on the trot after buying in HDFC Bank and Reliance Industries.

The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 229.84 points or 0.32 per cent to settle at 71,336.80. During the day, it jumped 364.33 points or 0.51 per cent to 71,471.29. Index heavyweights HDFC Bank and Reliance Industries contributed around 120 points to the rally.

The broader Nifty advanced 91.95 points or 0.43 per cent to 21,441.35 with 41 of its constituents ending in the green and nine closing with losses.

In the three sessions to Tuesday, Nifty gained 291 points or 1.37 per cent while Sensex rose by 1.17 per cent or 830 points.

Power, utilities, banking, oil and gas and commodities shares attracted buying while IT and teck shares succumbed to selling.

"Global markets are rallying in anticipation of aggressive US FED rate cuts in 2024. And Indian equities too are experiencing a surge despite premium valuations driven by reversed FIIs inflows amid global risk-on," said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services.

Among the Sensex firms, NTPC rose the most by 2.44 per cent. Mahindra & Mahindra advanced by 1.65 per cent, Wipro by 1.59 per cent, Kotak Mahindra Bank by 1.35 per cent, Tata Steel by 1.27 per cent, and Asian Paints by 1.24 per cent. Bharti Airtel, Power Grid, Titan, Reliance Industries and HDFC Bank also advanced.

Bajaj Finance fell the most by 1.81 per cent, Bajaj Finserv by 1.42 per cent, and Tata Consultancy Services by 0.8 per cent. Tata Motors and HCL Technologies were also among the losers.

Infosys, which on Saturday announced that a global company has decided to terminate a multi-year contract worth USD 1.5 billion with it, declined by 1.12 per cent.

"Optimism in world equity markets drove key local indices higher on the back of buying in oil & gas, power and metal stocks. With the year end round the corner investor participation is likely to remain thin, which could see the markets turn range-bound with a mixed bias over the next few days," said Prashanth Tapse, Senior VP (Research), Mehta Equities Ltd.

In the broader market, the BSE midcap gauge jumped 0.72 per cent and smallcap index climbed 0.48 per cent.

Among the indices, utilities rallied 1.56 per cent, oil & gas climbed 1.45 per cent, commodities jumped 1.36 per cent, energy (1.28 per cent), power (1.22 per cent), healthcare (1.13 per cent), metal (0.93 per cent) and auto (0.91 per cent).

IT and teck were the laggards.

In Asian markets, Seoul and Tokyo settled with gains while Shanghai ended lower. Markets in Hong Kong were closed.

US and European markets were closed on Monday. European markets remained closed on Tuesday for Boxing Day.

Global oil benchmark Brent crude climbed 0.03 per cent to USD 79.09 a barrel.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 2,828.94 crore on Friday, according to exchange data.

The BSE benchmark climbed 241.86 points or 0.34 per cent to settle at 71,106.96 on Friday. The Nifty went up by 94.35 points or 0.44 per cent to 21,349.40.