Nifty extends gain, settles 15 pts higher

The benchmark Nifty today logged a modest gain of 15 points to scale a fresh closing high of 9,422 in a range-bound trade.
Overseas, European stocks were marginally lower on profit booking. Most Asian stocks advanced as global equities remained at record levels and a rebound in oil.
The NSE 50-share Nifty index opened higher at 9,448.60 later touched an all-time historic high of 9,450.65 and a low of 9,411.30. It ended at a new record closing high of 9,422.40, a rise of 15.10 points, or 0.16 per cent.
It witnessed an intra-day movement of about 39.35 points.
Sector-wise, media rose (3.44 per cent), auto (1.04 per cent), PSU bank (1.03 per cent), pharma (0.72 per cent), metal (0.56 per cent), IT (0.36 per cent), FMCG (0.30 per cent) and realty (0.26 per cent).

Among the laggards, energy fell (0.67 per cent), followed by Infra (0.41 per cent) and private banks (0.22 per cent).

The broader mid-cap edged up 0.02 per cent while small- cap fell 0.52 per cent.
Major index gainers were Eicher Motors 5.74 per cent, Zeel 5.53 per cent, HeroMotoco 4.15 per cent, Hindalco 3.50 per cent, Bajaj Auto 3.22 per cent and Infratel 2.90 per cent.
ONGC fell by 2.31 per cent, while other notable losers were GAIL (2.20 per cent), IOC (2.13 per cent), Bharti Airtl (1.81 per cent), Axis Bank (1.80 per cent) and HUL (1.66 per cent).

A total of 991 scrips declined, 678 advanced, while 81 remained unchanged. Total securities that hit their price bands were 107.
Turnover in the cash segment rose to Rs 25,387.29 crore from Rs 24,298.29 crore yesterday.
A total of 11,446.75 lakh shares changed hands in 8,984,530 trades. The market capitalisation of listed firms stood at Rs 12,481,454.99 crore.