Sensex, Nifty post biggest weekly gain since March

L&T, Tech Mahindra, BPCL, and ITC were up more than 8% each after reported a better-than-expected Q4 results.

The S&P BSE Sensex and the Nifty 50 have gained 5% each in week ended May 27,2016 and reported their biggest weekly gain in the past three months, on the back of slew positive news and strong earnings from index companies.

The Sensex was up 287 points at 26,654 on Friday, gaining 1,352 points in the past five sessions, while the Nifty 50 index - up 87 points - at 8,157, has surged 407 points during the week.

Earlier, in the week ended March 4, 2016, the benchmark indices zoomed 6.5% each in a single week. Post Budget, Nifty rallied 17%, while Sensex surged 16% since February 29.

The recent rally was triggered by an above-normal monsoon forecast by private weather forecaster, Skymet. Global cues, too, remained supportive.

In this backdrop, domestic institutional investors (DIIs) along with foreign institutional investors (FIIs) and foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) have put in Rs 2,040 crore in the Indian market in the past four trading sessions, data show.

Among sectoral indices, capital goods, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) and banks were among the top gainers in week, rallying 5%-11%.

L&T, the top gainer among Nifty 50 and Sensex stocks, rallied 18% during the week, while Tech Mahindra (13%), BPCL (10%) and ITC (9%) were up more than 8% after reported a better-than-expected results for the quarter ended March 2016 (Q4FY16).

State Bank of India (SBI), ICICI Bank, Ambuja Cements, ACC, Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Hindustan Unilever and Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) were among others from the benchmark indices, gaining more than 6% each.

Finolex Cables, Sharda Cropchem, Indiabulls Real Estate, Take Solutions, Biocon, Indoco Remedies, Bajaj Electricals and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) are from BSE500 index gained between 12%-21% during the week.

The S&P BSE Midcap & S&P BSE Smallcap indices underperformed the market by gaining 3% and 1%, respectively.

Total market capitalisation of BSE listed companies increased by Rs 3.27 lakh crore to Rs 99.13 lakh crore from Rs 95.86 crore at the beginning of the week.