Equities close in green on healthy buying in index heavyweights (Roundup)

Last-hour buying in capital goods, banking and consumer durables stocks lifted the two key Indian indices -- the NSE Nifty50 and the BSE Sensex -- to close Friday's trade in the positive territory.

Index heavyweights like the State Bank of India (SBI), Larsen and Toubro (LT), Hindustan Unilever (HUL) and Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) among others aided in the upward trajectory of the key indices.

The gains came in though the indices traded on a volatile note for most of the day on the back of negative global cues, outflow of foreign funds and caution ahead of the outcome of the two-day GST Council meet due later in the evening.

On a closing basis, the wider Nifty50 of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) rose by 12.80 points, or 0.12 per cent, to 10,321.75 points.

The 30-scrip S&P BSE Sensex closed at 33,314.56 points -- up 63.63 points or 0.19 per cent -- from Thursday's close.

However, the BSE market breadth was bearish -- 1,528 declines and 1,155 advances.

In terms of the broader markets, the BSE mid-cap closed lower by 0.09 per cent, whereas the small-cap index closed higher by 0.07 per cent.

"The benchmark indices ended positive on Friday after index heavyweight SBI rallied 6 per cent post its September quarter numbers," Dhruv Desai, Director and Chief Operating Officer of Tradebulls, told IANS.

"Gains were, however, capped as refiners such as Reliance Industries tumbled after oil prices gained overnight. Tata Motors slipped after the auto major said its British unit faced intensifying competition," said Desai.

Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services, said: "The outcome from GST council will decide the trajectory of some sectors like consumer durables, auto ancillaries, infra and building products.

"Weaknesses in global market and rising oil prices may push investors to turn conservative on the broad market," Nair added.

Sector-wise, the S&P BSE capital goods index zoomed by 343.33 points, followed by banking index, up 286.13 points, and consumer durables index up 274.90 points.

On the other hand, the S&P BSE automobile index declined by 158.79 points, oil and gas index by 113.58 points and healthcare index by 128.88 points.

Provisional data with the exchanges showed that foreign institutional investors sold stocks worth Rs 713.75 crore while domestic institutional investors invested in scrips worth Rs 231.25 crore.

On the currency front, the rupee weakened by 22-23 paise to close at 65.16-17 against the US dollar from its previous close at 64.94.

Major Sensex gainers on Friday were: SBI, up 6.20 per cent at Rs 333.20; LT, up 3.90 per cent at Rs 1,264.05; HUL, up 2.99 per cent at Rs 1,290.75; M&M, up 2.34 per cent at Rs 1,393.40; and ICICI Bank, up 2.25 per cent at Rs 318.60.

Major Sensex losers were: Tata Motors, down 4.01 per cent at Rs 422.65; Reliance Industries, down 2 per cent at Rs 883.50; Tata Motors (DVR), down 1.99 per cent at Rs 241.25; Asian Paints, down 1.57 per cent at Rs 1,176.45; and Sun Pharma, down 1.42 per cent at Rs 527.30.

--IANS

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