Mumbai, Nov 4: The BSE Sensex gained 81 points today to close at 17,562.61 as investors picked up select blue-chips amid firm global markets as Greece decided against holding a referendum on the debt bail-out package that was put together by European leaders.
The BSE 30-scrip index, Sensex, trimmed early gains, although some of the metal, capital goods, realty, banking and IT counters attracted good buying.
Refinery stocks, however, which were in the limelight initially after the hike in petrol prices, faced profit booking.
Sensex moved between 17,702.26 and 17,474.39 before settling at 17,562.61 -- up 80.68 points or 0.46 per cent.
The broad-based Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also improved further by 18.45 points or 0.35 pct at 5,284.20. A rise in Infosys, SBI, ICICI Bank, Bharti Airtel, L&T, Jindal Steel, Hero MoroCorp, Hindalco, Tata Steel and BHEL aided the Sensex gains.
However, top heavyweight on the barometer, RIL, as well as HUL and Tata Power closed with losses, capping the upsurge. Overall, investor sentiment turned positive globally after Greece yesterday scrapped the idea of referendum on the EU's debt bail-out plan that was put together by European leaders last week.
Besides, the European Central Bank (ECB) surprised investors by cutting interest rate by 25 basis points amid concerns of mild recession in the euro-zone nations.
Key indices in China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan gained up to 3.13 per cent.
European markets were mixed in the afternoon—France's CAC and Germany's DAX were down, while the UK's FTSE was in the green.
Back home, FIIs continued with buying spree and picked up shares worth Rs 77.90 crore yesterday as per Sebi data. 22 out of the 30 Sensex scrips closed in the green, while others ended in the red.
Hindalco was the top gainer with a rise of 2.43 per cent, followed by Jindal Steel (2.42 pc), Hero MotoCorp (2.19 pc), Sterlite Ind (1.69 pc), SBI (1.54 pc), Bharti Airtel (1.38 pc), BHEL (1.34 pc), Tata Steel (1.28 pc), Infosys (0.96 pc), L&T (0.87 pc) and ICICI (0.80 pc).
However, Tata Power declined 1.95 per cent, HUL (0.85 pc), RIL (0.57 pc) and Maruti Suzuki (0.51 pc). Among the sectoral indices, BSE-Metal rose 1.64 per cent, Capital Goods (1.03 pc) and Realty (0.80 pc), while Oil & Gas eased by 0.31 per cent.
The total market breadth turned positive as 1,580 stocks closed in the green, while 1,234 that settled in the red. The total turnover was relatively higher at Rs 2,387.90 crore from Rs 2,202.42 crore yesterday.
The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE) will remain closed on Monday, November 7, for “Bakri-Id”.
