SENSEX, NIFTY hit record high; ASK Automotive, PB Fintech decline 5%

At 09:20 AM, the S&P BSE SENSEX was trading 135 points, or 0.16% higher 85,304.43 levels, while the NSE's NIFTY50 was ruling at 26,045.65, up 41.5 points, or 0.16%. 

During the session, the BSE Sensex climbed 202.3 points to reach an all-time record peak of 85,372.17. The NSE Nifty went up 51.85 points to hit a fresh lifetime high of 26,056.

Buzzing Stocks

PB Fintech shares were down 5% at ₹1,637 apiece on the BSE amid reports that the parent firm of Policybazaar is exploring plans to venture into the healthcare sector by establishing its own chain of hospitals. However, the company has not provided any official comment regarding this development. 

Broader Market

The BSE MidCap index was trading 0.32% lower at 49,200.39 levels while the BSE SmallCap index was trading at 57,151.71, down 124 points, or 0.22%. 

Sector Watch

IT stocks were the top sectoral gainers on the BSE. The BSE IT index was trading at 42,801.32 levels, up 316 points, or 0.74%. On the flip side, oil and gas, metal, and consumer durable stocks were the leading losers. 

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth ₹973.94 crore on Wednesday, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were buyers as they bought equities worth ₹1,778.99 crore, according to exchange data.

Global Markets

Asian stocks bucked the global trend to extend a rally on Thursday, fuelled by persistent optimism over China's aggressive stimulus package, although there were signs some of that enthusiasm was starting to ebb.

The sea of green across equities in Asia came even as Wall Street closed lower overnight with global stock indexes giving up their gains from earlier in the week.

In commodities, oil prices edged up with Brent crude futures last 0.27% higher at $73.66 a barrel. US crude rose 0.2% to $69.82 per barrel.

Spot gold was steady at $2,659.56 an ounce, having scaled a record high on Wednesday.