Market hit 4-month high on easing border tensions

Mumbai: Market benchmarks Sensex and Nifty hit their four-month highs on Monday, tracking upbeat global bourses and signs of easing tensions between India and China.

The BSE gauge Sensex closed 465.86 points or 1.29 per cent, higher at 36,487.28; while the NSE barometer Nifty settled 156.30 points, or 1.47 per cent, up at 10,763.65. Both Sensex and Nifty logged their fourth consecutive gains, helped mainly by index heavyweights Reliance Industries (RIL) and HDFC Bank.

In terms of percentage gains on the Sensex, Mahindra and Mahindra topped the chart with over 7 per cent rise, followed by Bajaj Finance, RIL, Maruti, TCS, HDFC Bank and Tata Steel. On the other hand, Bajaj Auto, HDFC, Bharti Airtel, HUL and HCL Tech were the five scrips ended with losses.

Sectorally, BSE energy, realty, auto, metal, industrials, basic materials and capital goods indices rallied up to 2.97 per cent; while FMCG, healthcare and telecom ended in the red. Broader midcap and smallcap indices surged up to 1.30 per cent.

Market analysts said that apart from firm global cues, positive sentiment led by signs of easing border tension between India and China helped boost investor sentiment, though growing COVID-19 cases remained a concern going forward for the participants. In appositive development, both Indian and Chinese sides have agreed that maintenance of peace and tranquility were essential for development of bilateral ties between New Delhi and Beijing.

The Indian government in a statement said that National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a telephonic conversation on Sunday during which they agreed on disengagement of troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) at the earliest.

"Disengagement in the Galwan Valley fired up the bulls today as Reliance, Maruti and Bajaj Finance notched up smart gains. The key highlight of the day was the participation seen in the broader market in select PSU stocks," S Ranganathan, Head of Research at LKP securities, said.

Globally, massive buying momentum in equities on hopes of a Covid-19 vaccine and improving global macroeconomic conditions too boosted sentiment, traders said. In Asian, Shanghai rallied around 6 per cent, Hong Kong 4 per cent, Tokyo and Seoul up to 2 per cent on hopes of more government stimulus to support economic recovery. Stock exchanges in Europe too jumped up to 2 per cent in early deals.

Meanwhile, international oil benchmark Brent crude futures rose 1.43 per cent to $43.42 per barrel. On the currency front, the rupee pared initial gains and settled 2 paise down at 74.68 against the US dollar.

Meanwhile, India went past Russia to become the third worst-hit nation by the Covid-19 pandemic. Only the US and Brazil are ahead of India in terms of total coronavirus infections.