Sensex extends gains for 3rd day, up 162 points on global cues

Investor sentiment got a further boost amid optimism ahead of the earnings season, which will begin later this week with Infosys’ January-March results on Friday.

Markets finished higher for the third straight session on Monday, with benchmark Sensex rising about 162 points to close at almost four-week high of 33,788.54 on continued buying by domestic institutional investors (DIIs).

Besides, investor sentiment got a further boost amid optimism ahead of the earnings season, which will begin later this week with Infosys’ January-March results on Friday.

Brokers said a firm trend in other Asian markets and a higher opening of European shares on easing concerns about a sharp rise in US interest rates also helped in adding to positive cues.

The Sensex opened strong and continued to rise on persistent buying activity and hit a high of 33,846.50 but profit-taking at the fag-end trimmed gains to some extent and finally settled at 33,788.54, a gain of 161.57 points, or 0.48%.

The barometer had gained 607.90 points in the previous two sessions.

On similar lines, the 50-share NSE Nifty stayed in the green for the most of the session and hit a high of 10,397.70, before closing at 10,379.35, up 47.75 points or 0.46%.

Meanwhile, DIIs bought shares worth Rs 1,305.45 crore, while foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold stocks of Rs524.85 crore on Friday, as per provisional data.