Stock market closing: Nifty at 17,200, Sensex adds nearly 800 points; auto, realty stocks shine

Snapping two-day losing streak, the domestic equity market gained nearly 1.5% amid improved global cues and support from auto, realty and banking stocks on Tuesday. Tracking their Asian peers, broader Nifty50 managed to close at 17,200, while the Sensex gained nearly 800 points in Tuesday's closing 

Benchmarks Nifty 50 and the Sensex gained 1.4% and 1.37% respectively as they ended at 17,200.80 and 57,356.61.  

"Benchmark Indices gained one and a half percentage today on expectations of record GST collections for April even as FII ownership dropped to multi-year lows at 20%. Bajaj Group stocks, Autos & Real Estate stocks staged a smart recovery today with almost all sectoral indices ending in the Green," said S Ranganathan, Head of Research at LKP securities,  

FII's continue to be the second highest owners of Financials in India after the GOI despite the sector seeing the highest FII selling during the last one year, he said. "The broader markets witnessed buying interest in Footwear stocks with half a dozen listed entities gaining share in both value for money as well as aspirational brands. Earnings expectations also buoyed stocks of state run enterprises of Gujarat in today's trade," the expert added.  

Meanwhile, the 12-share Nifty Bank gained more than 300 points as the banking index wrapped around 36,000-mark.  

In the broader market, following benchmarks, Nifty midcap and small cap indices gained 1.6 and 1.1% respectively as India VIX closed above 19-mark.  

Meanwhile, Nifty Realty, Auto, Media, FMCG, Oil and Gas and Consumer Durables gained between 1.5% to 3.5% on a single day even as all other indices settled in the green.  

Among stocks, Adani Ports, Bajaj Auto, Hero MotoCorp, Power Grid, Titan, Mahindra & Mahindra, Bajaj Finance, RIL and L&T gained the most on benchmarks. ONGC, Apollo Hospitals, Axis Bank, Hindalco, Maruti, Wipro and Asian Paints declined the most.