FINAL TRADE: Nifty50 leaps 95 pts to two-month closing high led by financial, metal shares

Domestic equity benchmarks rose on Tuesday led by gains in financial and metal stocks, as the market returned to trade after a long weekend, though losses in FMCG stocks kept the upside in check. Dalal Street tracked mixed moves from global markets as investors awaited a key quarterly reading on growth in the world's largest economy due this week amid conviction among investors that the Fed will not raise rates in the current cycle.

The Nifty50 gained 95 points, or 0.5 per cent, to end at 19,889.7 and the leaner, 30-scrip Sensex gauge settled at 66,174.2, up 204.2 points, or 0.3 per cent, from its previous close—their highest closing levels since September 20 and October 17, respectively. 

Tata Motors, Bharat Petroleum, Coal India, ONGC, Bajaj Finserv and Hero MotoCorp, finishing around 2-4 per cent each, rose the most among the 39 gainers in the Nifty basket. On the other hand, Cipla, Apollo Hospitals, Hindustan Unilever, Sun Pharma and ITC, declining between 0.4 per cent and 0.6 per cent, were among the top blue-chip laggards.

While Tata Motors, Axis Bank and Bharti airtel were the biggest contributors to the rise in the 30-scrip gauge, ITC was the top drag.

The high-beta Nifty Bank index, whose 12 constituents include HDFC Bank, SBI and ICICI Bank, finished 111.9 points, or 0.3 per cent, higher at 43,881. 

The Nifty Oil & Gas rose 2.3 per cent for the day, and was the top gainer among stock exchange NSE's sectoral gauges, as investors cheered stable crude oil prices ahead of a crucial meeting of the OPEC+ group on top producers scheduled this week. Benchmark Brent futures remained near $81 per barrel after sliding below $80 a barrel in the previous session.

Lower crude prices are positive for India, which meets four-fifths of its oil demand through imports.

Broader segments also participated in the rise, with the Nifty Midcap 100 and Nifty Smallcap 100 indices ending 0.5 per cent and 0.3 per cent higher, respectively. 

Overall market breadth remained largely neutral with a positive bias throughout the session, with an advance-decline ratio of 11:10 as 1,982 stocks rose while 1,811 fell on BSE.   

Analysts say market participants keenly await the outcome of Assembly polls in five states, due on December 3, for short-term domestic cues. 

"The gradual return of FIIs in the month of November post the global sell-off during the August-October period is having a steady positivity in India... Oil prices are stable ahead of the OPEC meeting and OMCs stand to benefit from the ease. The metal sector gained in line with expectations of Chinese stimulus, and PSU banks fared well due to better peer performance," said Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services.

With inputs from agencies