Benchmark indices closed higher on Wednesday, driven by gains in metal and pharma stocks. Investor sentiment was further supported by the opening day of the two-day GST Council meeting, where discussions on rationalising the indirect tax structure—highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address—are underway.
The 30-share benchmark index ended at 80567.71 up by 409.83 points or by 0.51 % and then NSE Nifty was at 24715.05 up by 135.45 points or by 0.55 %.
Sensex touched intraday high of 80671.28 and intraday low of 80004.6 The NSE Nifty touched intraday high of 24737.05 and intraday low of 24533.2
The top gainers of the BSE Sensex pack were Tata Steel Ltd. (Rs. 167.80,+5.90%), IndusInd Bank Ltd. (Rs. 768.30,+2.26%), Titan Company Ltd. (Rs. 3680.40,+1.73%), Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (Rs. 3286.10,+1.62%), ITC Ltd. (Rs. 411.50,+1.19%), among others.
The top losers of the BSE Sensex pack were Infosys Ltd. (Rs. 1479.30,-1.19%), NTPC Ltd. (Rs. 334.35,-0.55%), Nestle India Ltd. (Rs. 1194.60,-0.55%), Hindustan Unilever Ltd. (Rs. 2663.90,-0.49%), Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. (Rs. 3098.20,-0.45%), among others.
Metal index was at 32138.17 up by 961.05 points or by 3.08%. Tata Steel Ltd. (Rs. 167.80,+5.90%), Jindal Steel Ltd. (Rs. 1028.45,+5.49%), Steel Authority of India (SAIL) Ltd. (Rs. 129.75,+5.44%), National Aluminium Company Ltd. (Rs. 207.10,+3.37%), Hindalco Industries Ltd. (Rs. 743.00,+3.04%),.
IT index was at 34780.79 down by -198.84 points or by -0.57%. Intellect Design Arena Ltd. (Rs. 951.00,-3.36%), Genesys International Corporation Ltd. (Rs. 622.00,-1.89%), Zensar Technologies Ltd. (Rs. 779.10,-1.85%), InfoBeans Technologies Ltd. (Rs. 612.35,-1.78%), Mastek Ltd. (Rs. 2569.30,-1.46%),.
The Market breadth, indicating the overall strength of the market, was weak. On BSE out of total shares traded 4457 , shares advanced were 2748 while 1530 shares declined and 179 were unchanged.