Mumbai, Aug 20 (IANS) Positive global cues on easing trade protectionist measures along with an appreciation in the Indian rupee lifted the key equity indices -- S&P BSE Sensex and the NSE Nifty50 -- to settle at fresh high levels on Monday.
On a intra-day basis, the BSE Sensex touched a fresh high of 38,340.69 points, while the Nifty50 climbed a peak of 11,565.30 points.
Index-wise, the wider NSE Nifty50 closed at 11,551.75 points, up 81 points or 0.71 per cent from its previous close of 11,470.75 points.
The benchmark BSE Sensex which had opened at 38,075.07 points, closed at 38,278.75 points, higher by 330.87 points or 0.87 per cent from its previous close of 37,947.88 points. It touched an intra-day low of 38,050.69 points.
In the broader markets, the S&P BSE Mid-cap ended higher by 1.05 per cent and the S&P BSE Small-cap rose by 0.14 per cent.
The BSE market breadth was tilted towards the bulls with 1,437 advances and 1,307 declines.
"Positive global stocks, optimism over a trade resolution between the USA and China and strong institutional activity at home fuelled investor sentiment and pushed the bourses to close the day with gains," Abhijeet Dey, Senior Fund Manager for equities at BNP Paribas Mutual Fund.
The two economic giants are expected to hold lower-level trade talks this month, offering hope that they might resolve an escalating tariff war, Dey added.
Accordingly, major Asian markets closed on a positive note, barring the Nikkei and Straits indices and European indices including FTSE 100, DAX and CAC 40 traded in the green, said Deepak Jasani, Head of Retail Research at HDFC Securities.
Besides, global cues, the appreciation in Indian rupee supported the indices' upward movement.
On Monday, the Indian rupee appreciated by 33 paise to settle at 69.83 per US dollar, from its record closing low of 70.16 per dollar on the previous trade session.
"The rupee has appreciated today as the US dollar index has witnessed profit booking," Anand Rathi Shares and Stock Brokers' Research Analyst Rushabh Maru told IANS.
"There is an optimism in the market that US and China would find a solution for ongoing trade conflict. So that has also supported the rupee."
Investment-wise, provisional data with exchanges showed that foreign institutional investors sold scrip worth Rs 483.04 crore and the domestic institutional investors purchased stocks worth Rs 593.22 crore.
Sector-wise, the S&P BSE capital goods index rose 668.41 points, the metal index was up 332.36 points and the auto index rose by 244.22 points.
In contrast, the S&P BSE IT index declined by 188.84 points, consumer durables fell 127.24 points and Teck (entertainment, technology and media) index ended lower by 76.07 points from its previous close.
The major gainers on the Sensex were Larsen and Toubro, up 6.74 per cent at Rs 1,323.95; Tata Motors (DVR), up 5.74 per cent at Rs 143.80, Tata Motors, up 4.74 at Rs 269.55; ONGC up 3.34 per cent, at Rs 168.55; and Tata Steel, up 3.24 per cent at Rs 599.40 per share.
The majors losers were Infosys, down 3.22 per cent at Rs 1,385.20; Maruti Suzuki, down 0.79 per cent at Rs 9,075.90; ICICI Bank, down 0.50 per cent at Rs 338.35; Axis Bank, down 0.46 per cent at Rs 624.20; and Hindustan Unilever, down 0.30 at Rs 1,775.40 per share.
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