Domestic equities remain in positive territory, NIFTY up 0.55%

The key equity barometers traded with modest gains in early trade. Nifty opened at 22532 and hit a high of 22565 in first half hour of trade. Nifty PSU Bank, Nifty Bank and Nifty Financial Services shares advanced, while Nifty Healthcare Index and Nifty Auto shares fell.

At 09:30 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, posted modest gains of 565.76 points or 0.79% to 72,475.46. The Nifty 50 index inched up 122.40 points or 0.55% to 22,544.35.

The broader market failed to keep pace with frontline indices. The BSE 150 MidCap Index edged higher by 0.49% and the BSE 250 SmallCap Index added 0.52%.

The market breadth was favorable. On the BSE, 2742 shares gained and 1333 shares declined. A total of 270 shares were unchanged.

Nifty PSU Bank index climbed 2.08% to 8103. The index has shed 6.68% in last one month and edged higher by 5.85% over last one year. Bank of India, gaining 4.61%, led the gainers followed by Punjab Natl.Bank, up 3.14% and UCO Bank, inching higher 3.13%, respectively. All 12 constituents are advancing today.

Nifty Bank index gained 1.24% to 55128. The index has declined 5.15% in last one month and moved lower by 1.62% over last one year. Punjab Natl.Bank, edging up 3.14%, led the gainers followed by AU Small Finance, adding 2.69% and Federal Bank, adding 2.07%, respectively. All 14 constituents are advancing today.

Nifty Healthcare Index index inched down 0.60%. The index has slipped by 3.45% in last one month and rose 12.41% over last one year. Apollo Hospitals, edging lower 1.94%, led the losers followed by Max Healthcare, losing 1.74% and Fortis Health., down 1.63%, respectively. Out of 20 index constituents, 15 are reporting loss today.

In NIFTY500, S C I is the top gainer today, surging 6.25% to Rs 283.85. The counter is higher by 19.50% in last one year. It recorded an average volume quantity of 105355 in last five sessions compared to 128370.05 over last one month.

Asian markets recorded robust advances on Monday. China’s Shanghai composite is up 0.31%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is modestly lower by 0.27%. Japan’s Nikkei 225 is firmly higher by 2.10%.