Top Gainers & Losers: Bajaj Finance and SBI Life Insurance rise among blue chip stocks, HDFC Life Insurance dips over 2%

Top Gainers & Losers: Indian equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended in the green on Thursday, climbing for the fourth straight day, amid fresh foreign fund inflows and intense buying in IT and telecom stocks.

Buying in index majors Infosys and Reliance Industries added to the optimism in the equity market. The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 348.80 points or 0.58 per cent to settle at 60,649.38 and NSE Nifty advanced 101.45 points or 0.57 per cent to end at 17,915.05.

From the Nifty firms, Bajaj Auto, Bajaj Finance, SBI Life Insurance, Bajaj Finserv, and UPL were the major winners.

HDFC Life Insurance, Hindustan Unilever, ONGC,  Axis Bank, and Power Grid were the laggards.

"On the way up, Nifty is likely to target levels of 18100 from a short-term perspective. On the daily charts, the momentum indicator has triggered a fresh positive crossover which is likely to provide speed to the current up move. Thus, both price and momentum indicators are now in sync and suggest that the current rally is likely to continue. As long as the Nifty continues to trade above the 17720 – 17700 support zone positive momentum is expected to continue," said Jatin Gedia, Technical Research Analyst, Sharekhan by BNP Paribas

Here's a look at some of the blue-chip stocks that moved the most on Thursday:

Bajaj Finance 

Bajaj Finance stock was among the top gainers on Nifty50, it rose over 2 per cent to Rs 6,200 per share on the NSE.

Brokerage firm, Citi has maintained a 'Neutral' rating for a target price of Rs 6,400 which is an upside of 3.2 per cent.

Goldman Sachs has maintained a 'sell' on shares of Bajaj Finance and has raised the target to Rs 6,040 apiece from 5,725 apiece which is a downside of 2.6 per cent.

The global brokerage believes that the Q4 result is in line on all fronts, but challenges still remain. 

The report further stated that management has given growth guidance of 28 per cent to 29 per cent and said it would maintain its Return on Asset at c.4.9 per cent (lowest since 4Q 22) even though Net Interest Margins would be under pressure.

Pic: NSE

SBI Life Insurance 

Shares of SBI Life Insurance ended among the top gainers on Nifty50 on Thursday, the stock rose over 2 per cent to Rs 1,144.05 per share on the NSE.

Incred Equities has given a 'buy' call on shares of SBI Life Insurance for a target price of Rs 1,400 apiece which is an upside of Rs 22.4 per cent.

The brokerage is bullish on the company's leadership strength, improving margins, and superior operating efficiency.

Pic: NSE

HDFC Life Insurance 

HDFC Life Insurance stock ended as the major loser on NSE. Shares of the insurance company dipped over 2 per cent and settled at Rs 519.75 apiece. 

Brokerage firm, B&K Securities has maintained a ‘buy’ call on shares of HDFC Life for a target price of Rs 612 apiece which is an upside of 17.7 per cent.

According to B&K Securities, HDFC Life’s performance was broadly in line with expectations and the brokerage does not expect any material impact of results. 

Pic: NSE

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