Indian equities closed with modest gains after trading on Tuesday, with strength concentrated in the IT, Technology and Consumer Durables segments. At the National Stock Exchange, the Nifty 50 ended the day 0.43% higher, while the BSE Sensex finished up 0.52%.
Among Nifty constituents, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. (NSE:TCS) was the session's top performer on the NSE, advancing 6.74% - a rise of 154.80 points - to finish at 2,452.20. Infosys Ltd (NSE:INFY) followed with a 5.49% gain, up 66.00 points to close at 1,268.50, and HCL Technologies Ltd (NSE:HCLT) rose 4.15% or 49.60 points to settle at 1,244.70.
On the BSE Sensex 30, the same IT names featured among the leaders. Tata Consultancy Services (BO:TCS) climbed 6.66% to end at 2,451.00, Infosys (BO:INFY) gained 5.35% to close at 1,267.00, and HCL Technologies (BO:HCLT) added 4.18% to finish at 1,245.00.
Not all large-cap names were higher. NTPC Ltd (NSE:NTPC) was the weakest Nifty stock on the NSE, sliding 2.98% or 11.30 points to end at 367.40. Axis Bank Ltd (NSE:AXBK) declined 1.76%, down 22.50 points to 1,253.40, and Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (NSE:PGRD) fell 1.45% or 4.15 points to 282.00.
Mirroring the NSE moves, the BSE saw NTPC (BO:NTPC) fall 2.84% to 367.70, Axis Bank (BO:AXBK) lose 1.74% to 1,253.20, and Power Grid (BO:PGRD) drop 1.48% to 282.00 at the close.
Market breadth and volatility
On the India National Stock Exchange, advancing issues outnumbered decliners by 1,520 to 1,014, with 53 stocks unchanged. At the Bombay Stock Exchange, 2,123 stocks rose while 1,812 fell and 165 were unchanged. The India VIX, a gauge of implied volatility for Nifty 50 options, eased 7.42% to 15.31.
Commodities and currencies
Precious metals and energy contracts moved during the session. Gold Futures for August delivery increased 1.15%, up 51.96 to $4,558.26 a troy ounce. Crude oil for July delivery declined 0.97% or 0.89 to $91.27 a barrel, and the August Brent contract slipped 1.13% or 1.07 to $93.91 a barrel.
On currency pairs, USD/INR rose 0.26% to 95.23, while EUR/INR increased 0.38% to 110.92. The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.06% at 99.08.
Takeaway
The session was dominated by IT-led strength that helped benchmarks close higher, even as several large-cap names in the energy and banking-related segments ended lower. Market volatility, as measured by the India VIX, declined, and moves in commodities and foreign exchange were recorded alongside the equity gains.