(Representative image)
NEW DELHI: Equity indices finished higher on Thursday with the benchmark BSE sensex rising 700 points, led by gains in financial and banking stocks.
The 30-share BSE index surged 700 points or 2.09 per cent higher to close at 34,208; while, the broader NSE Nifty finished 211 points or 2.13 per cent higher at 10,092.
Bajaj Finance, Kotak Bank, SBI, Power Grid, Axis Bank and HDFC Bank were the top gainers in the sensex pack rising as much as 5.39 per cent.
While, ONGC, TCS, Hindustan Unilever, Bharti Airtel, Bajaj Auto and Maruti were the major losers, falling up to 0.64 per cent.
On the NSE platform, sub-indices Nifty Bank, Financial Services and Private Bank gained up to 3.74 per cent.
Ratings agency Fitch revised the country’s outlook to negative and said the coronavirus pandemic significantly weakened India’s growth outlook.
“Many variables are playing at the moment and the development with China could be perceived as negative by external buyers,” Rusmik Oza, head of fundamental research at Kotak Securities told news agency Reuters.
On the currency front, rupee settled on a flat note, registering a rise of just 2 paise to 76.14 (provisional) against the US dollar, tracking weak US dollar and gains in the domestic equity market.
Brent crude futures, the global oil benchmark, rose 0.42 per cent to $40.88 per barrel.
Meanwhile, foreign institutional investors were net sellers in the capital market as they sold shares worth Rs 486.62 crore on Wednesday, according to provisional exchange data.
(With agency inputs)
