Two key equity benchmarks, Sensex and Nifty, began trading on Thursday with a negative bias amid volatility. At 10.05 am, BSE Sensex was at 64,010 with a slight gain of 35 points. At the same time, NSE Nifty50 was trading up 7 points at 19,450.
On the 30-share Sensex platform, M&M, Tata Motors, IndusInd Bank, Maruti, PowerGrid, ICICI Bank were among the gainers. TechM, Reliance, JSW Steel, Sun Pharma, Infosys, HUL were among the losers. Among specific stocks, Patanjali Foods gained 1 per cent after reporting 126 per cent jump in net profit to Rs 254.50 crore for Q2FY24. Lupine shares rose 0.5 per cent after Q2FY24 consolidated net profit jumped 3.8 times to Rs 489.67 crore.
In the broader markets, BSE Midcap and Smallcap indices rose 0.2 per cent and 0.3 per cent respectively.
Sectorally, Nifty Auto and Metal indices rose 0.2 per cent. Realty shares were also trading in the green. Nifty FMCG fell 0.25 percent.
In the previous session on Wednesday, the S&P BSE Sensex closed at 64,976, up 33 points or 0.05 per cent, while the Nifty 50 closed at 19,444, up 37 points or 0.19 per cent.
In Asian markets, Seoul, Tokyo and Shanghai were trading in positive territory, while Hong Kong was trading lower. On Wednesday, American markets closed on a mixed note.
Global oil benchmark Brent crude rose 0.23 percent to $79.72 a barrel.
According to exchange data, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold equities worth Rs 84.55 crore on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Indian rupee rose 5 paise to 83.25 against the US dollar in morning trade on Thursday, as crude oil prices and the American currency retreated from their highs. However, a soft trend in domestic equities and continued foreign fund inflows weighed on investor sentiments.
The rupee opened at 83.25 at the interbank foreign exchange, 5 paise higher than its previous close. On Wednesday, the rupee closed at 83.30 against the American currency.
