SENSEX up 200 pts, NIFTY50 holds 25,000; TCS shares up 0.5% ahead of Q2 results 

At 9:20 AM, the S&P BSE SENSEX was trading at 81,669.39 levels, up 202.29 points, or 0.25%. The broader NIFTY50 index was up 61.40 points, or 0.25%, higher at 25,043.35 levels. 

On the SENSEX, L&T (up 1.5%) was the biggest gainer, followed by NTPC and Adani Ports. On the flip side, Tata Motors (down 0.7%) was the biggest loser. 

Among individual stocks, TCS shares were trading nearly 0.5% higher at ₹4,270.40 levels on the BSE ahead of its Q2 result announcement.

On the contrary, shares of Star Health and Allied Insurance Company were trading over 2.5% lower at ₹562.95 apiece on the BSE amid news reports that personal data such as mobile numbers, PANs, addresses, and pre-existing medical conditions of about 3.1 crore customers of Star Health Insurance is allegedly available on a website created by a hacker identified as xenZen.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth ₹4,562.71 crore on Wednesday, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought equities worth ₹3,508.61 crore, according to exchange data.

Broader Market

The broader market indices were faring better than their headline peers. The BSE MidCap index was trading at 48,619.84 levels, up 0.45% while the BSE SmallCap index was ruling 0.81% higher at 56,565.59 points. 

Sector Watch

Realty stocks were the biggest gainers in the early trade, followed by oil & gas and metal stocks. The BSE Realty index was trading 1% higher at 8,303.91 levels. 

Global Stocks

Asian stocks got a lift on Thursday from Chinese stocks as China's central bank kicked off its 500 billion yuan facility to spur capital markets, while the dollar lingered near a two-month high ahead of US inflation data later in the day.

In the overnight trade, Wall Street stocks advanced with the S&P 500 and the Dow scoring record closing highs after the release of Federal Reserve meeting minutes.

In commodities, oil prices were higher. Brent crude futures rose 0.4% to $76.86 a barrel, while the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures were up 0.37% at $73.5 a barrel.