The key domestic indices finished slightly higher. Nifty Financial Services, Nifty Media and Nifty PSU Bank shares advanced, while Nifty Metal and Nifty Pharma shares fell.

As per provisional closing data, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, posted modest gains of 138.36 points or 0.19% to 74,902.59. The Nifty 50 index added 46.30 points or 0.20% to 23,477.80. In the past three trading sessions, the Nifty and Sensex slipped by 1.27% and 1.62%, respectively.

The broader market lagged behind the frontline indices. The BSE 150 MidCap Index edged lower by 0.40% and the BSE 250 SmallCap Index moved higher by 0.01%.

The market breadth was soft. On the BSE, 2271 shares gained and 2847 shares declined. A total of 191 shares were unchanged.

HDFC Bank Ltd was the top traded stock in NIFTY50 index today, recording a quantity of 271.08 lakh shares and saw a sharp increase of 8.11% compared to last one-week’s average daily volume. The stock has fallen sharply by around 6.01% in last one-month and has fallen sharply 28.81% over last one year.

Tata Steel Ltd was the second highest traded stock in NIFTY50 index today, recording a quantity of 233.35 lakh shares and registered a sharp decline of 18.56% compared to last one-week’s average daily volume. The stock has drifted lower by around 0.78% in last one-month and has jumped 11.59% over last one year.

Index action

The Nifty Financial Services index advanced slightly by 0.57% to 25520.3 today. The index is slightly lower by 1.69% in last one week and has inched lower by 4.40% over last one month. It slipped by 2.25% in last one year. HDFC Life Insurance Company Ltd (up 2.36%), Cholamandalam Investment & Finance Company Ltd (up 1.64%), SBI Life Insurance Company Ltd (up 0.99%), HDFC Bank Ltd (up 0.98%) and Muthoot Finance Ltd (up 0.94%) jumped.

The Nifty Metal index moved lower by 0.65% to 13304.95 today. The index is up 1.78% in last one week and has moved higher by 1.25% over last one month. It soared by 37.57% in last one year. Jindal Stainless Ltd (down 2.70%), Hindustan Zinc Ltd (down 1.95%), Steel Authority of India Ltd (down 1.42%), NMDC Ltd (down 1.40%) and Vedanta Ltd (down 1.27%) slipped.

The Nifty Pharma index inched down by 0.51% to 26555.85 today. The index is marginally lower by 0.33% in last one week and has inched higher by 0.80% over last one month. It is sharply higher by around 21.04% in last one year. Sai Life Sciences Ltd (down 5.03%), Gland Pharma Ltd (down 2.62%), Piramal Pharma Ltd (down 2.53%), Aurobindo Pharma Ltd (down 1.80%) and Wockhardt Ltd (down 1.25%) dropped.