Sensex holds up ahead of GST Council decision

Stocks got back to consolidation mode in a see-saw session today as the Sensex closed high after two sessions of fall, ahead of the outcome of the GST Council meet amid a good set of earnings from Tata Motors.

Expectations that the GST (Goods and Services Tax) Council may offer relief to some sectors through reduction in tax rates at its meeting on Friday supported the rebound, traders said.

The 30-share Sensex, which had lost 512.38 points in the previous two sessions, edged up 32.12 points, or 0.10 per cent, to close at 33,250.93 after trading between 33,463.80 and 33,111.54.

During the day, the benchmark swung almost 350 points (both sides).

The 50-share NSE Nifty ended flat, up 5.80 points, or 0.06 per cent, at 10,308.95. Intra-day, it touched a high of 10,368.45 and a low of 10,266.95.

"Renewed buying in consumer durables restricted further fall in the market on expectations of reducing taxes for products coming under 28 per cent GST tax bracket. Albeit, investors are watchful ahead of key domestic macros CPI inflation and IIP data and global oil price fluctuation to get the direction," said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services.

Asian Paints was the topper surging 2.08 per cent, followed by ICICI Bank.

Tata Motors ended up 0.36 per cent at Rs 440.30 after the company today reported a three-fold jump in consolidated profit for the quarter to September.

Asian markets were indecisive and European shares turned lower.

Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) purchased shares worth a net Rs 3,038.16 crore while foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold equities worth a net Rs 3,838.27 crore yesterday, provisional data from stock exchanges showed.

Airtel, Tata Steel, Reliance Industries, Hindustan Unilever, SBI, NTPC, Dr Reddy's, Adani Ports, Bajaj Auto, Wipro, Infosys and TCS posted moderate gains.

However, ITC, Coal India, ONGC, Lupin, HDFC, Cipla, Axis Bank, Hero MotoCorp and Kotak Bank remained under pressure, down up to 2 per cent.

While consumer durables advanced the most by 3.23 per cent, followed by power, banking, metal and capital goods, healthcare, auto and FMCG ended in the red.

Broader markets put up somewhat a better show, with BSE mid-cap and small-cap indices jumping up to 0.98 per cent.