Benchmark BSE Sensex closed higher by 270 points on Tuesday, helped by late-day buying in banking and select IT shares as well as positive trends in the Asian markets.
Photograph: Shailesh Andrade/Reuters
After moving in a narrow range for most of the session, the 30-share barometer rose by 270.01 points or 0.32 per cent to close at 83,712.51.
As many as 18 of its constituents ended higher and 12 lower.
The 50-share NSE Nifty climbed 61.20 points or 0.24 per cent to settle at 25,522.50, after a muted trading session.
Stock markets moved in a range for most of the session before the emergence of value buying in the pre-close session.
Investors are awaiting definitive progress on the proposed India-US trade even as the US extended the suspension of reciprocal tariffs until August 1, experts said.
From the Sensex firms, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Eternal, Asian Paints, NTPC, Bharat Electronics Ltd, Adani Ports, Infosys and State Bank of India were among the major gainers.
However, Titan tumbled over 6 per cent. Trent, Axis Bank, Maruti and Hindustan Unilever were also among the laggards.
The US is close to making a trade deal with India, President Donald Trump has said.
“Now, we’ve made a deal with the United Kingdom, we’ve made a deal with China… We’re close to making a deal with India.
“Others we met with and we don’t think we’re going to be able to make a deal, so we just sent them a letter.
“If you want to play ball, this is what you have to pay,” Trump said on Monday.
The remarks came as the Trump administration sent out the first tranche of “letters” to various countries on Monday detailing the tariffs that the US will impose on products from those countries entering America.
The countries that got these letters, signed by Trump, were Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Serbia, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, and Tunisia.
In Asian markets, South Korea’s Kospi, Japan’s Nikkei 225 index, Shanghai’s SSE Composite index and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng settled in the positive territory.
“The Indian equity market remained largely range-bound as investors awaited definitive progress on the India–US trade agreement.
“While sentiment remains cautiously optimistic about a potential deal, the lack of formal confirmation has restrained fresh buying activity.
“Moreover, the US decision to extend the deadline for implementing 25% tariffs on key trading partners has led investors to adopt a more defensive approach,” Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited, said.
The BSE smallcap gauge declined 0.17 per cent while midcap index ended flat, up by just 0.01 per cent.
Among BSE sectoral indices, realty jumped 1.08 per cent, bankex (0.72 per cent), power (0.70 per cent), services (0.68 per cent), utilities (0.68 per cent) and financial services (0.45 per cent).
Consumer Durables dropped 1.68 per cent, telecommunication (0.47 per cent), auto (0.37 per cent), and consumer discretionary (0.09 per cent).
Global oil benchmark Brent crude dipped 0.59 per cent to $69.17 per barrel.
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) bought equities worth Rs 321.16 crore on Monday, according to exchange data. Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) also bought stocks worth Rs 1,853.39 crore.
