Closing Bell: Sensex ends marginally higher at 41,953, Nifty settles above 12,350

Market benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty scaled fresh record levels on Tuesday, led by gains in index-heavyweights HDFC, ITC, Axis Bank and TCS. In a choppy trading session, the 30-share BSE Sensex hit life-time high of 41,994.26 in day trade. It finally settled 92.94 points or 0.22 per cent higher at 41,952.63 - its all-time closing high.

The broader Nifty scaled its lifetime high (intra-day) of 12,374.25, before ending 32.75 points, or 0.27 per cent, higher at 12,362.30, which is a record closing level. Hero MotoCorp was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, rallying 2.15 per cent, followed by ITC, M&M, Tech Mahindra, Nestle, Axis Bank, NTPC, HDFC and TCS.

On Monday, Sensex settled 259.97 points, or 0.62 per cent, up at its new closing peak of 41,859.69. Likewise, the Nifty ended 72.75 points, or 0.59 per cent, higher at 12,329.55 - its fresh closing record.

On the other hand, IndusInd Bank, RIL, Kotak Bank, SBI, L&T, ONGC and ICICI Bank fell up to 3.85 per cent. Bourses in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Seoul ended on a mixed note.

Exchanges in Europe were off to a tepid start. Brent crude oil futures rose 0.16 per cent to USD 64.30 per barrel. The rupee was trading flat at 70.85 per US dollar (intra-day).

Gold Falls Rs 61 On Weak Global Prices

Gold on Tuesday fell Rs 61 to Rs 40,422 per 10 gram in the national capital on weak global prices and absence of demand, according to HDFC Securities.

In the previous trade, it had closed at Rs 40,483 per 10 gram. Silver prices tumbled Rs 602 to Rs 47,083 per kg, compared with Rs 47,685 per kg on Monday.

“Spot gold for 24 karat in Delhi was trading down by Rs 61 on weak global prices and absence of spot demand,” Tapan Patel, senior analyst (commodities), HDFC Securities, said. In the international market, gold was quoting lower at USD 1,544 per ounce and silver at USD 17.75 per ounce.

“Gold prices are trading down on positive global cues as investors are awaiting for the official agreement of the US-China Phase-1 trade deal. Strong equity indices have also pressured gold prices,” he added.

(With inputs from PTI)