Post-Budget market rally continues; Sensex surges 696 points

IndusInd Bank was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, spurting over 5 per cent, followed by Bajaj Finserv, HCL Tech, Bajaj Finance, Kotak Bank and Axis Bank.

NSE Nifty jumped 203.15 points to 17,780.00.

Equity benchmark Sensex surged nearly 700 points on Wednesday to recapture the 59,000-level, as the post-Budget rally continued for the second session with intense buying in banking and financial stocks.

Supportive global cues also propped up the domestic indices, traders said.

The 30-share BSE Sensex closed 695.76 points or 1.18 per cent higher at 59,558.33.

Likewise, the NSE Nifty jumped 203.15 points or 1.16 per cent to end at 17,780.00.

IndusInd Bank was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, spurting over 5 per cent, followed by Bajaj Finserv, HCL Tech, Bajaj Finance, Kotak Bank and Axis Bank.

On the other hand, Tech Mahindra, Nestle India, Maruti and L&T were among the laggards.

Of the Sensex constituents, 21 shares closed higher while 9 were in the red.

India's Budget for 2022-23, with higher allocation to infrastructure, is likely to provide a boost to the ongoing economic recovery through a sharp increase in capex spending, according to experts.

Elsewhere in Asia, Japan's Nikkei closed with healthy gains.

Several Asian markets, including China, Hong Kong and South Korea, were shut for the Lunar New Year holidays.

International oil benchmark Brent crude rose 0.27 per cent to $89.40 per barrel.