The benchmark indices ended higher on Wednesday, led by buying in bank, IT, oil & gas and auto stocks. In the broader markets, the BSE MidCap and SmallCap indices added 0.78 per cent and 0.4 per cent, respectively.
Overseas, Asian markets closed on a predominantly negative note on Wednesday amidst anxiety ahead of release of PMI readings from China. Hang Seng extended losses, closing at a 1-month low. The Japanese benchmark Nikkei 225 slipped 87 points or 0.26 percent to end trading at 33,244.43.
In commodities, Crude oil prices rebounded from their recent lows in anticipation of the upcoming OPEC+ meetings and the dollar index's decline. While Indian rupee closed flat at 83.32 per dollar versus previous close of 83.34.
Gold prices touched a nearly seven-month high on Wednesday, propelled by a decline in the U.S. dollar and bond yields as investors grew confident that the Federal Reserve would likely cut interest rates by the first half of next year.
The 30-share benchmark index closed trading at 66901.91 up by 727.71 points or by 1.1 % and then NSE Nifty was at 20096.6 up by 206.9 points or by 1.04 %.
During the positive day’s trade, Sensex touched intraday high of 66946.28 and intraday low of 66374.52 The NSE Nifty touched intraday high of 20104.65 and intraday low of 19956.30.
The top gainers of the BSE Sensex pack were Axis Bank Ltd. (Rs. 1060.40,+3.92%), Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (Rs. 1618.90,+3.38%), Wipro Ltd. (Rs. 406.15,+2.32%), Tata Motors Ltd. (Rs. 712.15,+2.09%), HDFC Bank Ltd. (Rs. 1559.25,+1.94%), among others.
The top losers of the BSE Sensex pack were Nestle India Ltd. (Rs. 24071.95,-0.57%), Titan Company Ltd. (Rs. 3425.05,-0.49%), Bajaj Finserv Ltd. (Rs. 1649.00,-0.34%), UltraTech Cement Ltd. (Rs. 8721.80,-0.07%), among others.
Among sectors, Bankex index was at 50321.12 up by 824.26 points or by 1.67%. Axis Bank Ltd. (Rs. 1060.40,+3.92%), HDFC Bank Ltd. (Rs. 1559.25,+1.94%), Canara Bank (Rs. 402.85,+1.76%), Au Small Finance Bank Ltd. (Rs. 748.90,+1.61%), ICICI Bank Ltd. (Rs. 939.35,+1.44%),.
On the flip side, Realty index was at 5572.22 down by -25.27 points or by -0.45%. Phoenix Mills Ltd. (Rs. 2312.00,-3.12%), Macrotech Developers Ltd. (Rs. 852.00,-1.84%), Sobha Ltd. (Rs. 884.20,-1.30%), Oberoi Realty Ltd. (Rs. 1398.35,-0.78%), Prestige Estates Projects Ltd. (Rs. 952.10,-0.71%),.
The Market breadth, indicating the overall strength of the market, was weak. On BSE out of total shares traded 4121 , shares advanced were 2067 while 1873 shares declined and 181 were unchanged.