FIRST TRADE: Sensex, Nifty hit new highs; Nifty nears 25,000 levels, Bank Nifty up over 500 pts

Tracking positive and strong Asian markets, Indian equities benchmarks opened strongly with both headline indices scaling new highs. The rally in Asian markets was spurred after a week of earnings reports and three central bank meetings that could see the US and UK open the door to easing, while Japan could raise borrowing costs and move towards "normalisation". Also, sentiment in the US markets was aided after investors again flocked to tech-giants. Furthermore, the US CPI also aided sentiment as it has bolstered stance of a rate cut in September.

After opening at 24,943.3, Nifty in early trade scaled to a fresh high of 24,980.45 levels. Meanwhile Sensex at the last count was up 0.43 per cent or 346.93 points at 81,679.65, after logging fresh record high of 81,749.34.

Prashanth Tapse, Senior VP (Research), Mehta Equities stated that bullish sentiment remains strong, bolstered by positive US PCE inflation data ahead of the Fed meeting, where a September rate cut seems imminent. Key events this week include the FOMC meeting conclusion on July 31st, Friday's US NFP, and Q1 results from major companies.

Dr. V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Financial Services noted that other than the positive US inflation data, the decline in the US 10-year bond yield to 4.17 per cent and decline in Brent crude to $ 81.2 are other supporting factors.

In a departure from recent trends both FIIs and DIIs turned buyers last Friday resulting in a total buying of Rs 5320 crores pushing the market sharply up. DIIs which were sitting on cash waiting for clarity on tax proposals in the Budget have started deploying funds, particularly in quality largecaps, which explains the sharp rally in the Nifty. In the current scenario the market is likely to ignore the valuation concerns and march ahead. ICICI bank has posted good Q1 numbers. The market is largely ignoring the good results of banking stocks on fears of potential margin compression due to slow growth in deposits, he added.