Market gathers momentum, Sensex up 120 pts amid F&O expiry

Sensex surged by about 120 points to 28,144.32, bringing up gains for the second straight day on sustained foreign fund inflows and persistent buying by investors as the Cabinet yesterday cleared changes in the GST Constituional Amendment bill amid July derivatives expiry.

The strengthening rupee against the dollar at the forex market and short-covering by participants with today being the last trading session of the July series of derivative contracts supported the upmove.

Sentiment bolstered on hopes that the long-awaited GST Bill may be passed in the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament after the Cabinet yesterday cleared changes in the Constitutional Amendment bill, brokers said.

The 30-share index was trading higher by 119.99 points, or 0.42 per cent, at 28,144.32. The gauge had gained 47.81 points in the previous session. Sectoral indices led by realty, consumer durables, auto and FMCG led the rally, rising up to 1.13 per cent.

The NSE Nifty rose by 32.85 points, or 0.38 per cent, to 8,648.65. On the other hand, other Asian markets were trading in the negative zone in their early trade after the Federal Reserve left the door open for a US interest rate hike this year.In the Asian region, Japan’s Nikkei fell 0.69 per cent while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng shed 0.37 per cent in early trade. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.01 per cent lower yesterday.