Market close snapshot
Indian shares ended the trading session in positive territory on Thursday, driven by strength in the Capital Goods, Public Sector Undertakings and Banking sectors. At the National Stock Exchange close, the Nifty 50 recorded a modest gain of 0.05%. On the Bombay Stock Exchange, the Sensex advanced 0.48%.
Top movers - Nifty 50
The session's biggest contributors on the Nifty 50 included Reliance Industries Ltd (NSE:RELI), which climbed 3.20% - a rise of 41.00 points - to finish at 1,321.00. State Bank Of India (NSE:SBI) added 2.90%, ending 30.60 points higher at 1,085.60. Bharat Electronics Ltd (NSE:BAJE) was also among the advance leaders, up 2.36% or 9.20 points to 399.20.
On the flip side, Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (NSE:PGRD) was the session laggard, sliding 3.89% or 10.95 points to close at 270.80. Hero MotoCorp Ltd (NSE:HROM) fell 1.93%, ending at 5,580.00 after a 110.00-point decline, while Bajaj Auto Ltd (NSE:BAJA) retreated 1.81% or 214.00 points to 11,586.00.
Top movers - BSE Sensex 30
On the BSE, Reliance Industries Ltd (BO:RELI) rose 3.43% to 1,325.00, State Bank Of India (BO:SBI) gained 3.02% to settle at 1,084.85 and ICICI Bank Ltd (BO:ICBK) increased 2.28% to close at 1,476.95. The weakest on the Sensex included Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (BO:PGRD), down 3.99% to 270.75, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. (BO:TCS), which lost 2.06% to 2,370.00, and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (BO:MAHM), off 1.41% at 3,415.00.
Market breadth and volatility
Falling shares outnumbered advancers on both exchanges. On the NSE, decliners totaled 1,377 versus 1,176 advancers and 53 unchanged issues. The BSE recorded 2,058 falls and 1,930 advances, with 209 stocks unchanged. The India VIX, which gauges implied volatility on Nifty 50 options, edged up 0.52% to 12.12.
Notably, shares of ICICI Bank Ltd (BO:ICBK) moved to 52-week highs during the session, climbing 2.28% or 32.95 points to end at 1,476.95.
Commodities and FX
In commodities trading, Gold Futures for December delivery rose 0.55% or 23.67 to $4,328.87 a troy ounce. U.S. crude for September delivery increased 0.69% or 0.52 to $75.74 a barrel, while the October Brent contract gained 0.83% or 0.66 to trade at $80.11 a barrel.
On the currency front, USD/INR was up 0.16% to 95.26 and EUR/INR rose 0.02% to 109.91. The US Dollar Index Futures moved 0.10% higher to 99.64.
Context and closing notes
The session closed with selective strength concentrated among large-cap capital goods, state-owned enterprises and major banking names, while several utility, auto and IT names declined. Volatility measures ticked slightly higher and commodity prices ended the session firmer. Trading breadth favored decliners on both the NSE and BSE.