BSE Sensex rallies about 154 points to 24,624; Rupee at 68.23

Mumbai :The benchmark BSE Sensex rallied about 154 points to 24,623.56 in early session today on fresh buying push from investors as the February derivatives series was off to a solid start amid positive Asian cues.

The 30-share Sensex, which lost 22.82 points in the previous choppy session, recouped 153.99 points, or 0.62 per cent, at 24,623.56.
Except banking, all sectoral indices of BSE led by consumer durables, metal and oil and gas were in the positive zone, rising by up to 1.85 per cent.

The NSE Nifty jumped 54.35 points, or 0.73 per cent, to 7,479.

Brokers said build-up of bets following the beginning of the February futures and options (F&O) series led to the rebound.

A firming trend at other Asian markets led by Japan after the Bank of Japan surprised markets by announcing a negative interest rate policy buoyed sentiment here too, they said.

However, shares of ICICI Bank and Maruti Suzuki fell 3.86 per cent 1.72 per cent, respectively, dragged down by muted third quarter earnings announced after trading hours yesterday.

Japan’s Nikkei climbed 3.21 per cent, Shanghai Composite rose 2 per cent while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was up 2.05 per cent in early trade.

The US markets ended 0.79 per cent higher in yesterday’s trade on higher oil prices and strong corporate earnings. The rupee recovered 26 paise to 67.97 against the US dollar in early trade today at the Interbank Foreign Exchange market on fresh selling of the American currency by exporters.

Besides, dollar’s weakness against other currencies overseas and a rebound in domestic equity market in early hours supported the rupee, forex dealers said.

The local unit had lost 18 paise to close at a fresh 29-month low of 68.23 in yesterday’s trade on persistent dollar demand from banks and importers despite a lower greenback overseas after the US Fed kept interest rates unchanged.

The benchmark BSE Sensex recovered 153.99 points, or 0.62 per cent, to 24,623.56 in early trade today.

PTI