Sensex Ends Higher For Ninth Day; Metals, Autos Outperform

Catch all live updates on share prices, index moves, corporate announcements and more from Indian stock markets today.  

A bronze bull statue stands at the entrance of the Bombay Stock Exchange building in Mumbai. (Photographer: Dhiraj Singh/Bloomberg)

Closing Bell

Indian equities staged a sharp recovery from the day's low to end near the highest point of the day, and lodging yet another record high.

The S&P BSE Sensex ended 0.64% higher at 48,176. This was the ninth straight day of gains for the index. The NSE Nifty 50 index too gained 0.8% to close above the mark of 14,100 at 14,132.

Among the sectoral indices, Metal stocks outperformed its peers by a long way, with the Metals index ending with gains of 5.1%. The index now trades at the highest since November 2018.

What also ended at a two-year high is the Auto index, which gained 1.6% in today's session.

The Nifty I.T. index extended its winning run, gaining 2.7% today to end at another record high.

Other indices like Nifty Pharma and the PSU Bank index ended with gains of 1% each. The Nifty Bank index underperformed in today's session, ending little changed.

Broader markets outperformed in today's session, with the Midcap index ending 1.4% higher while the Smallcap index gained 1.2%.

India Volatility Index ended with gains of 2.3% at the mark of 20.

1,361 stocks on the NSE ended with gains while 580 stocks posted losses.

How Did The Sectoral Indices Fare

Auto Index At Two-Year High

In Focus: Gold

Also Read: Gold Roars Out of the Blocks in ‘21 as Dollar, Real Yields Hurt

Marico's Quarterly Business Update

  • Faster than expected recovery seen in consumer sentiment in India
  • Witnessed strong performance across its portfolio
  • General trade continues to grow healthily and rural markets are staying ahead of urban
  • E-commerce continued to do well, Modern trade fared better while CSD continued to decline
  • Double-digit volume growth in the India business
  • Parachute coconut oil delivered ahead of its medium-term aspirations
  • Foods portfolio continued to witness exponential growth in-line with near-term aspirations
  • International business saw high single-digit constant currency growth led by double-digit growth in Bangladesh
  • Saw price hikes across both parachute and Saffola edible oil portfolios
  • Expect to deliver healthy profit growth on the back of various cost optimisation initiatives
  • Maintain an optimistic outlook for the rest of the year.

Markets At 2:10 P.M.

  • Benchmark indices fluctuate between gains and losses
  • Nifty up 0.5% at 14,087
  • Sensex up 0.4% at 48,040
  • Nifty Bank down 0.45% at 31,089
  • Nifty Midcap index up 1%
  • Nifty Smallcap index up 1%
  • India Volatility Index up 3.2% to 20.2
  • Nifty Metal remains the top sectoral gainer; up 3.4%
  • Nifty I.T. is the other major gainer; up 2.2%
  • Nifty Pharma and Nifty Auto index gain 1.2% each
  • Hindalco is the top Nifty gainer; up 5%
  • Hero MotoCorp is the top Nifty laggard; down 1.8%
  • 1,348 stocks on the NSE trade with gains while 556 are declining

Active Stock Options

  • TCS' 3,000 Call: Premium up 56% to Rs 108.9. The contract has added 8,700 shares in Open Interest.
  • Tata Steel's 700 Call: Premium up 110.8% to Rs 18.4. The contract has added 1.8 lakh shares in Open Interest.
  • Infosys' 1,300 Call: Premium up 20% to Rs 44.4. The contract has added 1.6 lakh shares in Open Interest.

In Focus: Bulk Drug Production

Also Read: India’s PLI Scheme To Boost Bulk Drug Output Faces These Hurdles

Buzzing Stock: Ashok Leyland

  • Top gainer on the Nifty Midcap index
  • Gains as much as 6.2% to Rs 105.3
  • Trading at the highest level since December 2018
  • Up for the third straight day
  • Today's volumes are almost quadruple its 20-day average
  • One-month implied volatility at 50%
  • 33 out of the 46 analysts tracking the stock have a buy recommendation; 3 sell calls
  • The stock trades 8.1% higher than its 12-month consensus price target of Rs 96.3

In Focus: Minda Industries

Also Read: PLI Scheme: Minda Industries’ Suggestion To Bring Rs 1 Lakh Crore Business Home

I.T. Index At Record High

In Focus: Metals

Also Read: Here’s Why Metal Stocks Are Rallying In Trade

Markets At Noon

  • Benchmark indices pare gains; trade little changed
  • Nifty up 14 points at 14,031
  • Sensex down 10 points at 47,856
  • Nifty Bank down 0.3% at 31,129
  • Nifty Midcap index up 0.5%
  • Nifty Smallcap index up 0.6%
  • India Volatility Index up 4.1% to 20.4
  • Nifty Metal index is the top sectoral gainer; up 2.7%
  • Nifty Pharma and Nifty I.T. index up 0.8% each
  • Nifty Realty is the top sectoral laggard; down 1%
  • Hindalco remains the top Nifty gainer; up 4%
  • Kotak Mahindra Bank remains the top Nifty laggard; down 1.3%
  • 1,223 stocks on the NSE trade with gains while 638 decline

In Focus: Reliance Industries

Also Read: Reliance Says It Has Nothing To Do With Farm Laws

In Focus: Mid-sized Private Banks

Also Read: Shares Of Federal Bank, CSB Bank, Karur Vysya Bank Surge After Quarterly Business Updates

Metal Index Is The Top Sectoral Gainer

Jefferies' 2021 Nifty Target

Also Read: Jefferies Expects Nifty 50 To Hit 15,800 By 2021-End; Suggests 10 Stock Picks

In Focus: Vedanta

Also Read: Why Vedanta May Desperately Need A BPCL

Markets At 10:10 A.M.

  • Benchmark indices trade with gains; Sensex up for the ninth day in a row
  • Nifty up 0.5% at 14,088
  • Sensex up 0.45% at 48,082
  • Nifty Bank up 0.7% at 31,442
  • Nifty Midcap index up 1%
  • Nifty Smallcap index up 0.8%
  • India Volatility Index up 1.1% to 19.8
  • Nifty Metal index is the top sectoral gainer; up 2.4%
  • PSU Bank index is the other major gainer; up 1.3%
  • Nifty I.T. index gains 0.9% while FMCG and Auto index up 0.7% each
  • Hindalco is the top Nifty gainer; up 3.2%
  • 44 out of the 50 index constituents advance
  • Kotak Mahindra Bank is the top Nifty laggard; down 0.7%
  • 1,443 stocks on the NSE trade with gains while 359 stocks are declining

In Focus: Larsen & Toubro

December Auto Sales: Bajaj Auto

In Focus: BEML

Also Read: India Seeks Expressions of Interest for Stake in State-Run BEML

Opening Bell

Indian equity markets have opened the first full trading week of 2021 on a positive note, registering new record highs in the process.

The S&P BSE Sensex has opened 0.5% higher at 48,109 while the NSE Nifty 50 index has opened above the mark of 14,100, gaining 0.6% to 14,104.

Among the sectoral indices, the Nifty Media and the PSU Bank index have opened with gains of over 1% while the Metal index has gained 1%.

The Nifty Bank and Nifty Auto index has gained 0.8% at the start of trade while the I.T. index is up 0.6%.

Broader markets too have opened higher. The Nifty Midcap index is up 0.8% while the Smallcap index gained a similar quantum at the start of trade.

1,429 stocks on the NSE are trading with gains while 301 stocks are declining.

Current Market Update

First Trading Week Of 2021

Good Morning!

The first full trading week of 2021 begins today. The Sensex so far has gained for nine straight weeks—the first time since April 2010. New Year’s day saw domestic investors turning buyers for the second time in as many months.

Futures are indicating a gap-up opening for Indian equities in today’s session. The Singapore-traded SGX Nifty, an early indicator of the Nifty 50 Index’s performance in India, rose 0.7% to 14,115 as of 7:55 a.m. on Monday.

Lots of stocks will be in focus today on the back of auto sales, divestment related newsflow, along with quarterly business updates as fourth-quarter earnings season is just around the corner.

Japanese equities are underperforming this morning as Tokyo reported a new daily record of Covid-19 cases. Shares rose in Australia and South Korea and edged lower in Hong Kong.

Futures on the Dow Jones have pared losses and are now trading little changed. Most global markets were shut on the first day of the new year.

West Texas Intermediate crude rose 0.4% to $48.71 per barrel, while gold rose 1% to $1,917.7/Oz.

Short on time? Well, then listen to this podcast for a quick summary of All You Need To Know before the opening bell.

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Hormaz Fatakia
<p>Cricket Fanatic, Movie Buff, Extremely talkative, love retro music and n... more
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