Stock Market Updates: Sensex Gains Over 100 pts, Nifty Above 18,350; Vodafone Idea Up 3%

Sensex Today: Key benchmark indices opened lower on Friday morning amidst mixed sentiments across global markets. The BSE Sensex gained 160 points to 62,050, and the NSE Nifty50 edged 47 points higher to 18,370.

Bajaj Finserv, Ultratech Cement, Tech M, Infosys, HCL Tech and NTPC led gains on the Sensex, while BPCL and Maruti were the top Nifty winners.

On the flip side, Power Grid, Sun Pharma, IndusInd Bank, Axis Bank, Eicher Motors, Grsim were among the few frontline losers.

The broader markets opened in line with benchmarks. The BSE MidCap and SmallCap indices rose up to 0.3 per cent.

Among stocks, Praj Industries jumped 5 per cent after its board approved a 50:50 JV with Indian Oil to set up biofuel production units.

Sectorally, IT, Metal and PSB indices gained most, while Pharma pocket underperformed.

Global Cues

Globally, the US markets traded mixed overnight as investors awaited signs for debt ceiling deal.

That said, better-than-expected earnings from software company Nvidia helped NASDAQ Composite index gain over 1 per cent, while Dow Jones declined 0.1 per cent, and the S&P 500 was up 0.8 per cent.

In Asia-Pacific, markets largely edged higher this morning after Japanese headline inflation eased to 3.2 per cent in May from 3.5 per cent in April. Nikkei 225, Topix, and Kospi indices rose up to 0.4 per cent, whereas Hong Kong markets were closed for a holiday.

From the commodity market, prices of Brent Crude declined marginally to $76 per barrel, while WTI Crude gained 0.1 per cent to $71 per barrel.