Extending their rally, the domestic benchmark indices ended around 2 per cent higher on Thursday - the last day of the futures and options (F&O) contracts for May series.
Financial stocks continued their upward journey with the Nifty Bank index climbing 2.45 per cent to 19,170 levels. Of 12 constituents, 8 advanced and 4 declined. Besides, auto, IT, and metal stocks too lifted the indices higher.
The benchmark S&P BSE Sensex surged 595 points or 1.88 per cent to 32,200.59 levels, with L&T (up 6 per cent) being the top gainer and ITC (down around 1 per cent) the biggest loser. NSE's Nifty zoomed 175 points or 1.88 per cent to 9,490.10 levels. Volatility guage, India VIX, dropped over 4 per cent to 30 levels.
In the broader market, the S&P BSE MidCap index ended over 1.3 per cent higher at 11,622 while the S&P BSE SmallCap index settled at 10,769, up 150 points or 1.42 per cent.
Buzzing stocks
Shares of UFlex surged as much as 17 per cent to Rs 203 during the day on the BSE after the company announced that it has developed a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Coverall 'Flex Protect' in joint collaboration with lIT-Delhi and INMAS, DRDO, Delhi. The stock ended at Rs 187 apiece, up around 8 per cent. READ MORE
Sun Pharma ended nearly 2 per cent higher after the company reported a 17 per cent year-on-year (YoY) decline in its consolidated profit before tax (PBT) at Rs 577 crore for the March quarter. READ MORE
Eicher Motors climbed over 8 per cent to Rs 16,216.90 on the BSE after after the company announced stock split plan to make the stock more affordable for the small retail investors and increase liquidity. The company manufactures the iconic Royal Enfield brand of motorcycles which leads the premium motorcycle segment in India.
Global markets
European shares rose for the fourth straight session on Thursday and the euro perched at a two-month high, as businesses returning to work and a 750 billion euro EU stimulus plan outweighed rising US-China tensions.
Asian markets had been subdued overnight after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had warned Hong Kong no longer warranted special treatment under US law, but there was no stopping Europe.
Shares in Hong Kong skidded as much 1.75 per cent before ending down a 0.7 per cent as Chinese shares managed to close positive. Japan’s Nikkei had jumped 2.3 per cent though US stock futures lost momentum in Europe to trade only 0.1 per cent higher.
In oil market, oil prices plunged after US industry data showed a surprise steep build in crude oil inventories.
(With inputs from Reuters)
