The BSE Metal index surged 1.6% to 12,364. The BSE Bankex, Consumer Durables, FMCG, Oil & Gas and Auto indices advanced over 1% each. The market breadth was marginally negative - out of 2,725 stocks traded, 1,411 declined, 1,212 advanced and 102 were unchanged on Friday.
The index finished the month with a significant gain of 14.7% (2,547 points) -- the best so far this year. In the last two months, the index gained a whopping 29.5% (4,519 points), and the index is up almost 44% (6,051 points) on a year-till-date basis.
The main driver remains expectations of a big rate cut in the May 3 credit policy review, but stocks like Hind Unilever and ITC have also seen heavy buying.
Hind Lever Chemicals is considering merging with Tata Chemicals Ltd, the Bombay Stock Exchange said on Wednesday.
On its radar are Alberto-Culver and the personal care and laundry portfolios of Sara Lee, both recent acquisitions of Unilever.
Most of the 30-Sensex constituents led by M&M, Adani Ports, BhartiAirtel, Bajaj Auto, Hero MotoCorp, ICICI Bank, Sun Pharma, Cipla, HDFC Ltd, ONGC and Hind Unilever were trading in negative terrain, falling by up to 5.77 per cent.
In the coming months, Lever Ayush will venture into categories beyond soaps, shampoos, toothpastes, lotions and moisturisers, its current segments of operation, as it seeks to give the brand a horizontal push.
Investors watch out for cues from the on-going winter session of the Parliament.
BSE Sensex on Monday closed nearly 34 points higher at 26,350.17 with gains in realty, power, FMCG and oil & gas stocks amid sustained buying by domestic institutional investors.
ITC, Sun Pharma, HDFC and Coal India were among the top gainers.
Coal India was the biggest gainer on both Sensex and Nifty
Domestic market is losing its trend to rate sensitive stocks post the announcement of the new RBI governor who is likely to maintain a cautious stance on interest rate cut
The 30-share Sensex, after opening on a strong footing, continued its upward march to hit an all-time high of 35,827.70. The NSE Nifty also hit a record intra-day high of 10,975.10, before finishing at 10,966.20, up 71.50 points.
The BSE IT sector, however, failed to snap a three-day losing streak and closed around 0.14 per cent lower.
From the valuation angle, the market is showing similar signs of being over-valued without being in a bubble territory yet.
The trend was visible in the early trade on Thursday as investors indulged in trimming their bets after the minutes of the US Federal Reserve's September meeting indicated a possible rate hike this year.
On a weekly basis, the Sensex climbed 749.86 points or 2.69 per cent and the NSE Nifty soared 237.10 points or 2.76 per cent
The BSE benchmark Sensex surged about 241 points to end at 35,165.48 and the NSE Nifty gained 84 points to close at 10,688.65.
Ajit Mishra, vice president, research, Religare Broking, answers your queries.
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