Sensex rises over 100 points to 38,828 ahead of GDP data release; Nifty reclaims 11,700-mark; healthcare, IT stocks up

Mumbai: Reversing early losses, the benchmark BSE Sensex recovered over 100 points and NSE Nifty reclaimed the 11,700-mark ahead of the release of key GDP data scheduled later in the day. The 30-share Sensex rose 138.06 points, or 0.36 percent, to 38,828.16 in early trade, after hitting a low of 38,611.46 at the outset. It lost 206.53 points in the previous two sessions. All the sectoral indices, led by healthcare, IT, tech, power and consumer durables, rose up to 2 percent. The NSE Nifty too gained 47.70 points, or 0.41 percent, to 11,724.50 after touching a low of 11,654.80. Investors built up fresh positions as September futures and options (F&O) series opened today, brokers said. [caption id=“attachment_4357795” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. Reuters.[/caption] However, volatility remained as the rupee hit the 71-mark for the first time and other global markets were trading in the negative zone on worries prompted by a report that new US tariffs on China were imminent, they added. Investors area also eyeing GDP data for April-June quarter that will be released later in the day. Prominent gainers included Sun Pharma, Wipro, Infosys, PowerGrid, ONGC, Coal India, NTPC, Asian Paint, HUL, ITC Ltd, L&T, Kotak Bank, IndusInd Bank and Tata Steel, rising up to 2.27 percent. While, top losers include Yes Bank, RIL, Vedanta, Bharti Airtel, Axis Bank and HDFC Bank remained under pressure, falling up to 3.44 percent. Meanwhile, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net of Rs 958.01 crore yesterday, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) sold shares worth a net of Rs 1,598.67 crore, provisional data showed. Elsewhere in Asia, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was down 0.98 percent, Japan’s Nikkei shed 0.17 percent and Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.08 percent in early trade. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.50 percent lower yesterday.