Equity markets started on a strong footing ahead of the Union Budget presentation at 11 AM today.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present Budget 2023 in Parliament today, the last full Budget of the Modi government in its second term. This year's Budget holds much significance as the country is scheduled to have the next Lok Sabha election in April-May 2024.
At 9:45 hours, the 30-share benchmark index was trading at 59899.58 up by 349.68 points or by 0.59 % and then NSE Nifty was at 17768.95 up by 106.8 points or by 0.6 %.
Sensex touched intraday high of 60066.87 and intraday low of 59807.68 The NSE Nifty touched intraday high of 17815.3 and intraday low of 17735.7
The top gainers of the BSE Sensex pack were ICICI Bank Ltd. (Rs. 852.95,+2.56%), Tata Steel Ltd. (Rs. 121.40,+1.46%), Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (Rs. 1028.95,+1.34%), Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. (Rs. 1753.00,+1.31%), Asian Paints Ltd. (Rs. 2762.15,+1.30%), among others.
The top losers of the BSE Sensex pack were Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Rs. 1021.65,-1.29%), Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (Rs. 1365.50,-0.95%), UltraTech Cement Ltd. (Rs. 7074.00,-0.21%), IndusInd Bank Ltd. (Rs. 1082.20,-0.13%), Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. (Rs. 8880.90,-0.12%), among others.
Metal index was at 21462.27 up by 309.31 points or by 1.46%. Jindal Steel & Power Ltd. (Rs. 601.85,+3.15%), Hindalco Industries Ltd. (Rs. 479.05,+2.24%), Vedanta Ltd. (Rs. 337.75,+1.55%), Tata Steel Ltd. (Rs. 121.45,+1.50%), JSW Steel Ltd. (Rs. 726.95,+1.44%),.
Oil&Gas index was at 18328 down by -194.05 points or by -1.05%. Adani Total Gas Ltd. (Rs. 1901.65,-10.00%), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (Rs. 339.25,-1.17%), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (Rs. 235.70,-0.92%), Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (Rs. 81.25,-0.67%),.
The Market breadth, indicating the overall strength of the market, was weak. On BSE out of total shares traded 3143 , shares advanced were 2276 while 738 shares declined and 129 were unchanged.