Markets maintain winning run, post weekly gains

Mumbai: Equity benchmarks defied gravity for the second straight session on Friday on expectations of measures from the Centre to jumpstart the sluggish economy and assuage investor concerns over taxation.

After rallying 480 points during the day, the 30-share BSE Sensex settled 254.55 points or 0.68 per cent higher at 37,581.91. The broader NSE Nifty jumped 77.20 points or 0.70 per cent to 11,109.65.

During the week, the Sensex gained 463.69 points or 1.24 per cent, while the Nifty advanced 112.30 points or 1.02 per cent. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) here on Friday amid indications that the higher surcharge imposed on them in the Budget may be reconsidered.

Sitharaman and finance ministry officials also met captains of the industry on Thursday and assured them that the government will take action to boost the economy.

Hopes of multiple measures from the Centre to lift growth and address tax concerns fuelled the rally in domestic equities over the last two sessions, traders said.

Top gainers in the Sensex pack on Friday included Maruti, Bajaj Finance, Vedanta, HDFC twins, HUL, Kotak Bank and ICICI bank, which surged up to 3.36 per cent. On the other hand, Yes Bank was the biggest laggard, cracking 7.91 per cent.

Tech Mahindra, Tata Motors, Tata Steel, ITC and Sun Pharma too fell up to 2.50 per cent. "Indications from the government to announce measures to boost private investments and relaxation in super-rich tax for FPIs fuelled positive momentum in the market.

Profit booking was witnessed in defensive segments like IT stocks, but the rally was broad based.