Sensex ends 66 points higher; auto, bank stocks tank

Mumbai:The BSE benchmark Sensex ended 66 points higher Wednesday after a highly volatile session ahead of the US Federal Reserve meet outcome.

After rallying nearly 400 points during the day, the BSE gauge settled 66.40 points, or 0.17 per cent, higher at 39,112.74. The index hit an intra-day high of 39,435.80 and a low of 38,881.05.

The broader NSE Nifty closed almost flat at 11,691.45. During the day, the index touched a high of 11,802.50 and a low of 11,625.10.

Top gainers in the Sensex pack included Tata Steel, Kotak Bank, NTPC, HDFC twins, PowerGrid and ONGC, rising up to 4.60 per cent.

On the other hand, Yes Bank, Tata Motors, Hero MotoCorp, IndusInd Bank, M&M, Bharti Airtel and Bajaj Auto fell up to 5.54 per cent.

The domestic market opened on a positive note following upbeat Asian bourses on hopes that the US Fed might cut rates in the near future, said Narendra Solanki, Head Fundamental Research (Investment Services) - AVP Equity Research, Anand Rathi Shares and Stock Brokers.

Further, reports of US-China trade talks next week also gave a shot in the arm to global markets, he added.

However, the markets trimmed most of their gains and came off the day's highs led by selling in PSU banks, auto and pharma and IT sectors.

"The markets also failed to draw any sense of relief with the Reserve Bank of India's statement that it will infuse Rs 12,500 crore of liquidity into the system through purchase of government bonds to ease prevailing liquidity conditions," Solanki said.

Elsewhere in Asia, Hang Seng rallied 2.56 per cent, Shanghai Composite Index jumped 0.96 per cent, Nikkei soared 1.72 per cent and Kospi gained 1.24 per cent.

Stock exchanges in Europe were trading on a mixed note in early deals.

On the currency front, the Indian rupee was flat at 69.70 against the US dollar intra-day.

Brent crude futures, the global oil benchmark, fell 0.55 per cent to USD 61.80 per barrel.