Sensex ends choppy trade 77 pts higher; Adani Group cos sink up to 9%

Stock market updates: Market bulls made a smart comeback on Dalal Street on Monday as brisk buying in Reliance Industries, Bajaj twins, L&T, and Infosys helped benchmarks recoup losses. 

Indices started gap-down amid profit booking with the frontline S&P BSE Sensex and the Nifty50 dropping to lows of 51,936 and 15,606, respectively. However, positive cues from global peers, coupled with healthy buying in IT, PSU Bank, and select pharma and FMCG counters, helped the indices end the session in the positive territory.

The frontline Sensex index fluctuated 655 points before settling 77 points, or 0.15 per cent, higher from previous close at 52,551.5 levels. The Nifty50 index, meanwhile, settled at 15,812 levels, up 13 points or 0.08 per cent. India VIX index rose 4 per cent on the NSE today, suggesting high volatility in the markets.

In the broader markets, the BSE MidCap index ended the day in the red, down 0.7 per cent, amid steep losses in Adani Group stocks and BHEL while the BSE SmallCap index closed 0.2 per cent lower. 

Among individual stocks, shares of Adani Group companies rebounded from their respective intra-day lows on Monday after the company clarified that the demat accounts of three foreign funds-Albula Investment Fund, Cresta Fund and APMS Investment Fund holding shares in group Companies 'are not frozen'. READ MORE

Besides, shares of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) slipped 18 per cent to Rs 62.55 on the BSE in intra-day trade on Monday after the company reported a lower-than-expected set of numbers for the quarter ended March 2021 (Q4FY21). READ MORE

Sectorally, the Nifty PSU Bank index ended the day as the top gainer on the NSE, up 1 per cent, while the Nifty Realty index closed as worst performer, down 1.4 per cent.

Global markets

European shares hit a record high on Monday as investors bet on global central banks sticking to an accommodative stance on monetary policy even as the post-pandemic economic recovery gathers pace.

The pan-European STOXX 600 was up 0.3 per cent, Germany's DAX hit an all-time high, while the UK's FTSE 100 scaled its highest since February 2020 ahead of a decision by the government on whether to delay England's reopening from a third national lockdown. 

In Asia, investors were seen taking a wait-and-see stance ahead of the Federal Reserve's meeting and economic indicators from the United States and China. Japan's Nikkei gained 0.74 per cent, and South Korea's Kospi added 0.09 per cent. China and Australian markets were shut for holidays.

Meanwhile, futures of all three main Wall Street indices indicated a positive start later in the day.

(With inputs from Reuters)