Third straight gain for Sensex, up 384pts, Nifty tops 17k; Medplus up 41%

The broader markets also finished with significant gains with the BSE Midcap & Smallcap indices up 1 per cent and 0.7 per cent, respectively. IT, financials and energy shares were the top gainers.

Closing Bell

The key benchmark indices rallied for the third straight trading session as investors pinned hopes of a possible year-end rally, despite the Omicron threat.

The BSE benchmark index, the Sensex, opened with a positive gap of 320 points, and managed to survive with notable gains throughout the day in spite interim bouts of profit-taking. The BSE 30-share index touched a high of 57,491, but pared some gains to close at 57,315 - up 384 points.

The NSE Nifty touched a high of 17,119, and in doing so came tantalisingly close to its 20-DMA (Daily Moving Average) placed at 17,148. The Nifty 50 finally finished 118 points higher at 17,073.

One of the major highlights of the day's trade was the sparkling debut of Medplus Health Services. The stock started trading on the BSE at Rs 1,015 - a hefty permium of 27.5 per cent to its issue price of Rs 796, and went to scale a high of Rs 1,143. The stock eventually ended Day 1 of trades at Rs 1,119 - a premium of 40.5 per cent to its issue price. READ MORE



PowerGrid was the biggest per centage gainer, up over 3 per cent from the Sensex-30 pack. Index heavyweights ITC and Infosys gained 2.4 per cent and 1.8 per cent, respectively. The IT major hit a fresh life-time high of Rs 1,862 in intraday trades. READ MORE

NTPC, Bajaj Finance, SBI, Bajaj Finserv, Tech Mahindra, Axis Bank, Titan, Wipro, HDFC, Mahindra & Mahindra and TCS were the other major gainers, up 1-2 per cent each.

Market Dashboard: Snapshot of key movers and shakers in trade today

On the negative side, Bharti Airtel, UltraTech Cement,  Sun Pharma, Maruti and ICICI Bank were some of the marginal losers.

The broader markets also ended with smart gains. The BSE Midcap index advanced a per cent, while the Smallcap index added 0.7 per cent. The overall breadth too was extremely positive, with advancing shares outnumbering declining stocks in almost 2:1 ratio on the BSE.

In the broader markets, Great Eastern Shipping was one of the major gainers. The stock surged nearly 9 per cent to the day's high of Rs 300 after the company announced its plan for share buyback. The company said its board of directors are scheduled to meet on Monday December 27, 2021 to consider and approve a proposal for buy-back of equity shares of the company. READ MORE

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Among sectoral indices, the BSE Realty index surged 2.5 per cent. The FMCG, IT, Consumer Durables, Oil & Gas and Power indices were the other major gainer, up over a per cent each. The Telecom index down 0.8 per cent was the sole loser.

In the primary market, CMS Info Systems IPO was subscribed 1.72 times as of 03:30 PM on its final day of the offer period. The retail portion was subscribed 2.05 times, and QIBs 2 times.
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Markets at 02:30 PM

LIVE market updates: The key benchmark indices pared gains in mid-noon deals led by weakness in select index heavyweights - Bharti Airtel, Reliance Industries and ICICI Bank.

The BSE Sensex, which, touched a high of 57,491, was up 369 points at 57,300. It's counterpart, NSE Nifty 50 had gained 110 points at 17,045.

Bharti Airtel had slipped over a per cent. Maruti, Sun Pharma and Asian Paints were the other notable per centage losers among the Sensex 30.

On the positive front, PowerGrid and ITC contiued to trade on a firm note. Bajaj Finance, Axis Bank, SBI, Tech Mahidnra and Infosys were the other prominent gainers.

Among sectoral indices, the BSE Realty index had jumped over 2 per cent. The Oil & Gas, Power and FMCG indices were the other significant gainers. The Telecom index, however, was down a per cent.

Meanwhile, markets in Europe had started trade on a quiet note. The DAX 30 was up 0.3 per cent, whle the FTSE 100 and CAC 40 were flat.
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Markets at Lunch (01:30  PM )

LIVE market updates: The key benchmark indices had firmed up and were hovering near the highs of the day on the back of solid gains in index heavyweights ITC, Infosys and HDFC twins.

The BSE Sensex was up 549 points at 57,480, and the NSE Nifty had gained 156 points at 17,111.

ITC and PowerGrid Corporation had gained around 3 per cent each and were the top gainers among the Sensex 30 stocks. Bajaj Finance, Axis Bank, SBI, Infosys, HDFC, Tech Mahindra, NTPC and Kotak Bank were the other major gainers.

The broader indices had also logged smart gains. The BSE Midcap and the Smallcap indices were up nearly a per cent each. The overall breadth too was extremely positive, with 2,285 stocks advancing versus 970 declining stocks on the BSE.

In the broader markets, Jyoti Resins & Adhesives hit a record high at Rs 1,260, and was up as much as 38 per cent in past three trading sessions on the back strong investors demand. READ MORE                             

STC India, Accel, Ceinsys Tech, PTL Enterprises, Vanta Bioscience, GPT Infra, Lokesh Machines, Gati, Transport Corporation of India, Firstsource Solutions, Elgi Equipments, GE Shipping, MMTC, MTNL, Radico Khaitan, Morepen Labs and JB Chemicals were the other major gainers.

On the flip side, Cybermedia, Hindustan Construction, Future Retail, Minda Industries, PNB Housing, Tarapur Transformers, GTN Textiles, Axiscades Technologies, 3i Infotech and Mangalam Seeds were the other major losers.                        
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Markets at noon

LIVE market updates: Headline indices remained steady in the afternoon trade. The BSE Sensex was up around 400 points at 57,318, while the NSE Nifty added 113 points and managed to stay above the 17,000 mark. Both the indices were up nearly 0.7 per cent each. 

The broader market was slightly higher wherein the BSE MidCap and Small Cap indices were trading around 0.9 per cent and 0.8 per cent higher, respectively. 
 

The leading gainers on the Sensex included PowerGrid, Bajaj Finance, ITC, and NTPC. In additon, IOC, ONGC, Cipla, Adani Ports were among the gainers on the Nifty 50.

The shares of Bharti Airtel and Asian Paints remained in the negative on both the indices. 

Shares of Infosys hit a record high of Rs 1,860, up 2 per cent on the BSE in Thursday’s intra-day trade. The stock surpassed its previous high of 1,848.25 on October 20, 2021. The stock was trading higher for the third straight day, before coming off the day's highs. READ MORE.

In the primary market, the IPO of CMS Info Systems was subscribed 80% so far. The retail investor portion was subscribed 1.5 times.

European markets

European stocks are set to open slightly higher as a study from South Africa that suggested a reduced risk of hospitalization and severe disease from Omicron as compared to delta, lifted market sentiment.

Britain’s FTSE 100 is seen climbing 27 points to 7,347, Germany’s DAX rising 51 points to 15,617 and the French CAC up 30 points at 7,068. 

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Markets at 10 AM

LIVE market updates: Benchmark indices steadily extended their opening gains and were trading 0.7 per cent higher. The S&P BSE Sensex was at 57,363 level, up 400 points. The Nifty50, on the other hand, added 130 points and remained above the 17,000 mark. 

The Nifty Realty index was up nearly 2 per cent, followed by Nifty IT (1.4 per cent), and Consumer Durables (1.25 per cent). All indices remained positive. 

Among the Sensex-30 constituents, IT stocks including Wipro, Infosys were up over 1 per cent each. While, index heavyweight Reliance Industries, telecom major Bharti Airtel, auto player Maruti and Asian Paints were in the red zone.  

New listing

Medplus Health Services (MHSL) made a strong debut on the bourses, as the shares were listed at Rs 1,040, a 31 per cent premium over its issue price of Rs 796 per share on the National Stock Exchange (NSE). The stock opened at Rs 1,015 on the BSE. READ MORE 

Currency market

The rupee opened marginally higher at 75.46 compared to Wednesday's close of 75.55. 

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Opening Bell

LIVE market updates: In line with positive global market trends, the benchmark indices opened higher and rose up to 0.5 per cent on Thursday. 

The BSE Sensex surged 261 points to quote at 57,224 level while the Nifty50 was at 17,039, up 83 points.

In the broader markets, the BSE MidCap and SmallCap indices gained 0.6 per cent each. 

Among stocks, drug maker Pfizer was up over 3 per cent on the BSE on the back of US FDA nod for its oral Covid-19 drug, a first to be approved globally. 

Vedanta rose over 2.5 per cent as the company has proposed to raise up to Rs 1000 crore via non‐convertible debentures.

Steelmaker Tata Steel also surged nearly 1.5 per cent as the company reported that its UK-based Port Talbot plant is a part of the construction of the world's largest offshore wind farm due to be completed by 2026.

Further, the shares of Great Eastern Shipping surged nearly 5 per cent. The company’s board will meet on December 27 to consider a proposal for buy-back of equity shares.

Among sectors, all indices were in green led by Nifty Realty (1.8 per cent) and Nifty Metal (1.4 per cent). 
 

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Pre-open session

LIVE market updates: Headline indices were higher in pre-open trade. The BSE Sensex was up around 300 points at 57,222 and the NSE Nifty reclaimed the 17,000 mark.

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LIVE market updates: The benchmark indices are likely to stay firm for a third consecutive day. At 8:20 AM, SGX Nifty indicated a start above 17,000 for the Nifty Index. 

However, the RBI's views on possible global headwinds amid the uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus variant (Omicron) may keep indices volatile. 

New listing

MedPlus Health Services will make its debut on the bourses today. The IPO had received strong response with over 52 times subscription and demand up to 111 times from QIBs. The Grey Market Premium (GMP) indicates a strong start for the shares, a likely 15-20 per cent premium to its issue price of Rs 796 per share.

Primary Market Update

CMS Info Systems IPO continued to receive slow response to its initial public sale of shares.  At the end of Day 2 of the offer period, the issue was subscribed just 52 per cent, with retail quota fully subscribed.

Global cues

Overnight, the US markets extended their winning run to the second straight day on hopes of a year-end rally. The Dow Jones gained 0.7 per cent. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq were up 1 per cent and 1.2 per cent, respectively.

This morning, the Asian markets were also seen trading with marginal gains. Nikkei and Straits Times were up 0.4 per cent each, while Taiwan had gained 0.6 per cent. Others like Shanghai, Hang Seng and Kospi were up 0.1-0.3 per cent each.