FINAL TRADE: Sensex up 230 pts; Nifty above 21,440 amid healthy buying; NTPC gains nearly 2.5%

Stock market today: The domestic benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty50 finished higher on Tuesday, December 26, amid buying in all sectors except IT and the PSU Bank index. The surge in some Asian stocks supported a rally on Dalal Street after cooler-than-expected U.S. inflation data boosted hopes of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve next year.

"Indian equities commenced the truncated week on a strong note, and as the day progressed, the index was seen compounding its gains to settle at 21,441.35 with gains of 91.95 points. The index rally was mainly driven by energy and metal stocks, followed by pharma, while the media and IT segments witnessed a correction. Chemical counters were the star performers of the day by regaining their lost momentum, while defence stocks strengthened their uptrend by registering fresh highs with volumes," said Aditya Gaggar, Director of Progressive Shares.

Among the Nifty 50 stocks, 41 advanced, with Divi's Laboratories, Hero MotoCorp, Adani Enterprises, NTPC, and ONGC being the top gainers, rising between 4.55 per cent and 2.16 per cent. On the flip side, Bajaj Finance, Bajaj Finserv, Infosys, TCS, and Tata Motors were the top losers, slipping between 1.65 per cent to 0.65 per cent.

The S&P BSE Sensex ended 229.84 points, or 0.32 per cent, higher at 71,336.8, and the NSE Nifty was up 91.95 points, or 0.43 per cent, at 21,441.35. Meanwhile, the Nifty Mid Cap 100 and Small Cap 100 closed higher. High-beta Nifty Bank settled 0.49 per cent higher at 47,724.85.

BUZZING STOCKS

Divi's Laboratories shares surged over 4 per cent on December 26, despite the company receiving a notice from Deputy Commissioner Central Tax, Gachibowli CGST Division, Hyderabad, of Rs 19.34 lakh on December 23.

Bharat Electronics (BEL) shares were up over 4 per cent after it received orders worth Rs 2,673 crore.

J Kumar Infra shares hit a record high after CLSA hiked its target price by 87 per cent. 

Conversely, Infosys shares were down over 1 per cent on the BSE after the IT firm terminated its AI deal with a global company worth $150 million.

GLOBAL MARKETS

Shares advanced in Asia on Tuesday in holiday-thinned trading, while European markets remained closed for holidays. The future for the S&P 500 was 0.2 per cent higher, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.1 per cent. 

(With agency inputs.)

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