FINAL TRADE: Sensex ends 320 pts higher; Nifty settles at 20,192; Bajaj Auto surges over 6%

Stock market today: Indian benchmark indices, Nifty and Sensex, edged higher for the eleventh consecutive session on Friday, September 15, amid buying in IT, metal, auto, financial services, and pharma stocks. Metals stocks saw buying interest after China's retail sales and industrial production picked up pace in August. IT stocks gained after an improving U.S. interest rate outlook. Bajaj Auto closed over 6 per cent higher after brokerage firm BofA Securities upgraded the rating from 'neutral' to 'buy'. 

At close, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 319.63 points, or 0.47 per cent at 67,838.63, and the NSE Nifty was up 89.25 points, or 0.44 per cent at 20,192.35.

In the Nifty 50 basket, 32 stocks advanced and 18 declined. Nifty Mid Cap 100 and Small Cap 100 indices closed on a positive note. 

NIFTY 50 STOCKS 

Bajaj Auto, Hero MotoCorp, M&M, Grasim and HCL Tech were the top gainers on the NSE. BPCL, HUL, Asian Paints, Britannia, and Tata Consumer Products were the major laggards. 

BUZZING STOCKS

Bajaj Auto shares were up over 6 per cent after BofA upgraded its rating to buy.

Indian Hotel Company stock closed over 1 per cent down paring all the gains of the morning deal.

Siyaram Silk Mills shares were up over 4 per cent at close after the company raised its buyback price to Rs 720 per share. 

Titagarh Rail Systems stock settled over 4 per cent after HSBC maintained a 'buy' rating on the stock.

Strides Pharma Science ended over 5 per cent higher after the company received tentative approval from the United Nations Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for dolutegravir 50 mg tablet.

Patel Engineering shares hit the upper circuit of 5 per cent after the company along with its joint venture partner, has been declared the lowest bidder (L1) for an irrigation project of Rs 249.96 crore.

GLOBAL MARKETS

Asian shares were mostly higher Friday after China reported that its slowing economy showed signs of stabilizing in August. Benchmarks rose in most regional markets but fell back in Shanghai.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng surged 1 per cent to 18,219.51 in afternoon trading, while the Shanghai Composite index was down 0.5 per cent at 3,110.22.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 surged 1.2 per cent to 33,551.04. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 jumped 1.3 per cent to 7,279.00. South Korea's Kospi added 1.2 per cent to 2,603.58

(With agency inputs)

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