After opening with modest gains, indices remained under pressure in the first half. The key benchmark climbed on the last day of the December series as investors prepared to close out a volatile year for financial markets. However, as the day progressed, late bout of buying in the auto, metal and IT stocks lifted the benchmarks.

Short-covering on the back of futures and options (F&O) expiry and a rupee appreciation buoyed the Indian equity markets during the mid-afternoon trade session on Thursday.

Besides, budgetary expectations and value buying enhanced investors’ risk-taking appetite, though negative global cues hampered the upward movement.

Sentiments got some support with report that the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) gave approval for over Rs 11,000 crore projects to improve rural road connectivity in the worst-affected left-wing extremism (LWE) districts from security angle.

NSE Nifty closed with a gain of 69 points at 8,104, while BSE Sensex ended with a gain of 155 points at 26,366.

On the global front, Asian markets closed on a mixed trend, as the crude oil prices slipped after touching its highest level in more than a year overnight. The Nikkei 225 ended lower by 1%. Shanghai Composite ended in red and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index index closed slightly higher.

European stocks trading in red. The FTSE 100, DAX and the CAC 40 were trading marginally down.

The Nifty IT index, which has fallen 9% so far this year, was 0.9% higher with Tech Mahindra and TCS as the top percentage gainers.

Shares of some pharmaceutical companies came under pressure after media report that the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority may bring rest of the 814 essential formulations under price control in the current financial year ending in March. Divis Lab fell 4.8%, whereas Glenmark, Sun Pharma and Aurobindo Pharma dropped 1% respectively.

Shares of IDBI Bank and IFCI gained on news of NSE filing papers with Sebi for its IPO. IFCI zoomed 13.4% on the BSE.

IRB Infrastructure gained 2.2% after the company has received Letter of Award from NHAI for the project of six laning of Kishangarh to Gulabpura section of NH 79A and NH 79 in the State of Rajasthan (length 90.000 km) on DBFOT (Toll) under NHDP Phase V package -I Project.

JMC Projects rallied 8% after company secured new orders worth over Rs 1,457 crore.

Pratibha Industries zoomed 11.5%. The company’s board to meet on January 4, 2017 to approve the issue and allotment of shares on preferential basis to the lenders of the company under strategic debt restructuring (SDR) scheme.

Phoenix Mills rose 2%. The company on Wednesday said it has acquired the remaining 8.72% stake in its wholly-owned subsidiary Island Star Mall Developers Pvt Ltd (ISMDPL).

Rajesh Exports advanced 1.4% after the company has received an export order worth Rs 929 crore for designer gold and diamond studded jewellery. The order is to be executed by March, the company said.

Goa Carbon rallied 3%. The company on Wednesday informed bourses that the operations at Bilaspur Plant have commenced from December 27, 2016.

The rupee was trading up 14 paise at 68.09 per US dollar.

Out of 1,379 stocks traded on the NSE, 390 declined and 927advanced today.

Top 5 Nifty Gainers: BHEL (1.76%), ITC Ltd. (1.49%), SBI (1.45%), ICICI Bank (1.43%) and Axis Bank (1.20%).

Top 5 Nifty Losers: Bharti Airtel (-0.53%), Tata Motors (-0.37%), Coal India (-0.28%) and Dr. Reddys Lab (-0.19%)

To qualify NCFM Capital Market Dealers Module certification examination, register with Intelivisto.com and buy Capital Market comprehensive question bank which features mock test, chapter-wise and full length test as per NCFM standards. It also includes performance analysis tools to analyze the performance. For more information call on: +91-9891224488.

The Sensex, Nifty closed flat after paring all of their intraday gains in the last hour of trade dragged lower by a sell-off in oil and gas companies on Wednesday and ahead of the expiry of futures and options contracts of the December series due tomorrow. Weak global cues and a weak rupee dampened the sentiment.

Today, the Union Cabinet approved the Ordinance on deadline to deposit old notes. The name of the Ordinance is ‘The Specified Bank Notes Cessation of Liabilities Ordinance’. The Cabinet headed by PM Narendra Modi also approved an ordinance to amend the RBI Act to extinguish the liability of the government and the central bank on the demonetised high-denomination notes to prevent future litigations, as per media reports.

NSE Nifty closed with a marginal gain of two points at 8,035, while BSE Sensex ended with a mere loss of three points at 26,211.

On the global front, Asian markets were trading in green as many regional markets resumed trading after the long holiday weekend. While a weaker yen, higher oil prices and upbeat U.S. consumer confidence and housing data lent some support, new regulatory measures unveiled in China to bring insurers under strict supervision served to limit the potential upside to some extent. Shanghai Composite and Nikkei 225 closed lower, while Hang Seng added 1% to 21,575.

European markets were trading mostly in green after upbeat U.S. economic data reinforced investor expectations for stronger economic growth under Trump presidency. FTSE100 was trading higher by 0.32%, whereas CAC40 and DAX is in red.

On the economy front, Viral Acharya was appointed by the Government as the Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India for a term of three years.

R.P.P. Infra Projects hit 20% upper circuit after the company bagged two orders from Kamarajar Port Limited and Chennai Corporation worth Rs 24.2 crore and Rs 30 crore respectively.

Sunil Hitech Engineers climbed 5% on the BSE after the company won an order worth Rs 434 crore from National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corp.

Cupid rose 5.3% after the company has informed BSE that a meeting of the Board of Directors will be held on January 5, 2017, to consider the proposal for raising funds through issue of securities and also to increase authorised capital of the Company.

Bharat Financial Inclusion zoomed 10.5% on the BSE. Morgan Stanley has acquired 1.1% stake in the company via open market purchase on December 23. Total holding by Morgan Stanley in the company has increased to 7.86% as on December 23.

Bharti Infratel soared 2.3% to Rs 339.30 on the BSE. Goldman Sachs has reportedly upgraded the rating on Bharti Infratel to ‘neutral’ from ‘sell’ following the recent fall in the stock price, as per media reports. The stock was the top Nifty gainer today.

Dhanuka Agritech inched up 1.4% after informing BSE that a Meeting of Buyback Committee of Board of Directors of the company will be held on January 3, 2017, to approve the final terms and conditions of Buyback of equity shares of the company, subject to Shareholders’ approval.

The rupee was trading down 14 paise at 68.20 per US dollar.

Out of 1,396 stocks traded on the NSE, 470 declined and 857 advanced today.

Top 5 Nifty Gainers: ONGC (1.24%), GAIL (0.86%), TCS (0.83%), HDFC (0.82%) and Asian Paints (0.75%).

Top 5 Nifty Losers: Adani Ports & Sez (-1.45%), ITC Ltd (-0.87%), Bajaj Auto (-0.54%), Hero Motocorp (-0.37%) and Coal India (-0.37%)

To qualify NCFM Capital Market Dealers Module certification examination, register with Intelivisto.com and buy Capital Market comprehensive question bank which features mock test, chapter-wise and full length test as per NCFM standards. It also includes performance analysis tools to analyze the performance. For more information call on: +91-9891224488.

The Indian stocks market rallied on Tuesday on account of buying of some blue-chip counters, which were heavily over-sold in last few trading sessions and covering-up of pending short positions by speculators ahead of the December futures and options expiry on Thursday.

FM Arun Jaitley sought to allay fears with his statement on the tax front. This is the second session in which the market has entered green territory during the last 9 consecutive trading days. Meanwhile, investors will be eyeing the meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with economists and senior government officials at NITI Aayog.

NSE Nifty closed with a gain of 125 points at 8,033, while BSE Sensex ended with a gain of 406 points at 26,213.

On the global front, Asian stocks ended mixed on a day of thin trade as some markets were closed on account of Christmas and New Year holiday week. Nikkei 225 ended flat at 19,404 and the Kospi of South Korea rose 0.2%. The Shanghai Composite index closed marginally lower. Hong Kong and Australia were closed for Boxing Day.

European stocks were trading in green today. The FTSE 100 rose 0.06%, while the CAC 40 and DAX was trading up 0.12% each.

Nifty FMCG Index opened at 19,671 and touched a high of 20,154 in the day’s trade. Among the top gainers was Dabur which was up 4.15%; it was closely followed by ITC which was up by 4.04%. Jubilant FoodWorks was up by 2.81%, while Marico and Tata Global Beverages Ltd also gained by nearly 2%.

Shares of Bharat Financial Inclusion today snapped a seven-session losing streak to rise 8% to Rs 518 on bargain buying.

Shares of Divis Laboratories closed up 3% at Rs 788.90 on some bargain buying, after a 33% fall in the stock over the previous three consecutive trading days.

Shares of Pharmaceuticals stocks rebounded after 9 days of correction. The Nifty Pharma index gained 2% at 10,083.

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals closed marginally higher. The company has been granted final approval by the United States Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) for Tretinoin Capsules, 10 mg, the generic version of Vesanoid Capsules, 10 mg, of Hoffmann La Roche, Inc. (which is no longer being marketed in the United States).

Future Enterprises zoomed 3.7% after the company has sold 16.09% of equity share capital of Future Lifesyle Fashions Ltd. This shares has been bought on floor of exchange by Future Corporate Resources Ltd, a promoter group company, by way of inter-se transfer under block deal mechanism at prevailing market rate at time of trade.

Union Quality Plastics jumped 4.9%. The company announced that the meeting of the board of directors of the company is scheduled to be held on Dec 29, to consider and approve forfeiture of 1,01,700 partly paid up equity shares.

Lupin advanced 2% after the pharma company has received tentative approval from the US health regulator to sell Olmesartan medoximil tablets, used for treating high blood pressure, in the American market.

The rupee was trading down 21 paise at 67.94 per US dollar.

Out of 1,362 stocks traded on the NSE, 320 declined and 986 advanced today.

Top 5 Nifty Gainers: Wipro (2.06%), Dr. Reddys Lab (1.23%), Coal India (1.16%), CIPLA (1.13%) and Axis Bank (0.94%).

Top 5 Nifty Losers: Tata Steel (-1.26%), Tata Motors (-0.64%), HDFC (-0.42%), L&T (-0.33%) and GAIL (-0.09%)

To qualify NCFM Capital Market Dealers Module certification examination, register with Intelivisto.com and buy Capital Market comprehensive question bank which features mock test, chapter-wise and full length test as per NCFM standards. It also includes performance analysis tools to analyze the performance. For more information call on: +91-9891224488.