Sensex ends volatile session 182 points higher; PSU bank stocks surge

The benchmark indices ended Tuesday's volatile session on a positive note amid buying in counters such as Reliance Industries (RIL), TCS, Infosys, and UltraTech Cement.

The S&P BSE Sensex gained 182 points, or 0.4 per cent to settle at a fresh closing peak of 45,609 levels while NSE's Nifty, too, ended at a record closing peak of 13,393, up 37 points, or 0.28 per cent. During the day, the index breached 13,400 level to hit a high of 13,435.45 points.    

Volatility index, India VIX, rose over 3 per cent to 18.6 levels.

On the sectoral front, PSU bank stocks rallied the most. The Nifty PSU Bank index surged over 7 per cent to 1,858 levels with all the 12 constituents advancing. 

In the broader market, the S&P BSE MidCap index slipped 0.16 per cent to 17,525 levels and the S&P BSE SmallCap index settled at 17,492, down 51 points, or 0.29 per cent.
 

Global markets

Asian stocks came under pressure on Tuesday as investors struggled to balance hopes for more economic stimulus and vaccines with fresh concerns about a surge in Covid-19 infections.

In Europe, shares were little changed as hopes of a Brexit trade deal faded amid a last-ditch attempt to find a solution, while rising coronavirus cases spurred talks of stricter curbs that could cause more economic pain.

In commodities, oil prices fell as California tightened its pandemic lockdown through Christmas and coronavirus cases continued to surge in the United States and Europe.

(With inputs from Reuters)