Equities extended gains for the third consecutive session today on the back of steady buying in heavyweights as the benchmark CNX Nifty reclaimed the key 6,100 mark on the National Stock Exchange(NSE).
Trading was extremely volatile ahead of the expiry of May derivatives contracts on Thursday and GDP data.
Hero MotoCorp was in limelight ahead of monthly sales numbers and the two-wheeler giant's stock rallied 5.78 per cent. Coal India hit a three-month high on better-than- expected earnings and price hike.
Reliance Industries share continued its uptrend for the second day after a significant gas discovery in KG Basin.
Trading began on a quiet note after the overnight surge and stock-specific actions were seen due to results. The key index picked up momentum as the session progressed and scaled the 6,100-mark on firm buying in bluechip stocks.
The market soon encountered volatility and briefly slipped into the red before recovering ground and ending with 28-point gain.
Strong gains in European peers also boosted sentiments on the Indian bourses. In Asia, Japan's benchmark index Nikkei -225 rebounded to close higher along with rest of the markets after three days of extreme choppiness.
The 50-issue Nifty fluctuated between a high of 6,127.65 and a low of 6,055.40 before ending at 6,111.25, a rise of 28.10 points, or 0.46 per cent, over its last close.
FMCG, oil & gas, auto, technology and metal related stocks attracted good buying interest. Healthcare and banking counters, however, came under intense selling pressure.
JP Associates, BHEL, M&M, ITC, ONGC, RIL, Tata Steel and NTPC were among the key index gainers. Notable losers included Ranbaxy, UltraTech, Kotak Bank, SBIN, Sesa Goa, Sun Pharma, Cipla, IndusInd Bank, L&T and HDFC.
Turnover in the cash segment rose to Rs 11,681.39 crore from Rs 9,254.83 crore yesterday. A total of 5,110.53 lakh shares changed hands in 52,37,922 trades. Market capitalisation stood at Rs 66,44,268 crore.
