Sensex up over 150 points; Nifty reclaims 12,200; check key reasons

In the last session, the 30-share gauge gained 52.28 points or 0.13 per cent to close at 41,306.02, while the Nifty settled 14.05 points or 0.12 per cent, higher at 12,182.50.

The benchmark equity indices traded higher on Thursday tracking gains in metal, energy and banking stocks. Even positive cues from the Chinese bourses helped the domestic indices to trade higher. The 30-share BSE index was trading 155.40 points or 0.38 per cent higher at 41,463.19. Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty rose 49.85 points or 0.41 per cent to 12,232.35. Tata Steel was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, followed by L&T and Reliance Industries. On the other hand, TCS was the top loser, followed by Bajaj Auto and Titan. In the last session, the 30-share gauge gained 52.28 points or 0.13 per cent to close at 41,306.02, while the Nifty settled 14.05 points or 0.12 per cent, higher at 12,182.50.

The domestic markets took cues from positive Asian markets after the central bank of China announced fresh stimulus for the country’s economy, news agency PTI reported citing unidentified traders. The investors are expecting positive announcements in the budget slated to be tabled in Parliament on February 1, 2020. It would be the second budget for finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The brent futures fell 0.32 per cent to $66.20 per barrel. The rupee plunged 9 paise to 71.31 against the US dollar in the early trade.

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Meanwhile, on a net basis, foreign institutional investors sold equities worth Rs 58.87 crore, while domestic institutional investors purchased shares worth Rs 208.47 crore on Wednesday, data available with stock exchanges showed. Foreign portfolio investments in India significantly improved in the current calendar year, after receiving the second-highest investments in the last five years. The country received Rs 1,36,835 crores as FPI in 2019, while it was heavily withdrawn to the extent of over Rs 80,000 crores in 2018, according to the National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL).