Sensex hits fresh record high, Nifty tops 12,000 for first time since June 11

NEW DELHI: After a day’s breather, the domestic stock market continued with its winning momentum on Wednesday as Sensex hit fresh record high, while Nifty reclaimed the 12,000 level for the first time since June 11.

Sensex rose 221.55 points or 0.55 per cent to 40,469.78, while Nifty finally ended at 11,966.05, up 48.85 points or 0.41 per cent.

Infosys was the biggest gainer, rising 2.5 per cent to Rs 713.45 on BSE after Chairman Nandan Nilkeni said that co-founders had no role in the whistleblower complaints.

Private lender ICICI Bank gained 2.5 per cent to Rs 480.70. The stocks is at the doorstep of its 52-week high of Rs 481.95.

The bank was the biggest Sensex contributor with 70 points while HDFC and Infosys followed with contribution of 65 points and 63 points, respectively.

Broader market underperformed benchmarks. Nifty Midcap edged up 0.29 per cent to 16,730 thanks to over 4% surge in Indiabullls Ventures, Edelweiss, Torrent Power and Hudco.

Nifty Smallcap advanced 0.17 per cent to 5,758 level. Top gainers in the pack were Venkey’s (up 6.82 per cent), Persistent (4.42 per cent), Delta Corps (2.9 per cent).

Cipla, that posted 25 per cent year-on-year rise in consolidated profit at Rs 471.35 crore for the quarter ended September, gained 1.3 per cent to Rs 473.70.

On the global front, Asian shares fell for the first time in four sessions as investors awaited new developments that might scale back a bruising trade war between the United States and China.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan eased 0.12 per cent. Australian shares were down 0.55 per cent, Chinese stocks fell 0.25 per cent, Japan’s Nikkei stock index rose 0.21 per cent.

The pan-region Euro Stoxx 50 futures were down 0.03 per cent, German DAX futures were down 0.06 per cent, while FTSE futures were down 0.29 per cent.