Stock market highlights: Sensex, Nifty close firmer, lifted by banking, metal stocks

Sensex, Nifty, Share Prices: The Indian benchmark indices ended higher on Friday, breaking a three-day losing streak, as strong buying in banking and financial stocks offset losses in the IT sector. The BSE Sensex closed 218.14 points or 0.27 per cent higher at 81,224.75, while the NSE Nifty 50 gained 104.20 points or 0.42 per cent to end at 24,854.05.

Banking stocks led the rally, with the Nifty Bank index surging 1.57 per cent and Nifty Financial Services climbing 1.50 per cent. Axis Bank emerged as the top gainer on NSE, soaring 5.75 per cent, followed by Wipro (3.59 per cent), Eicher Motors (2.98 per cent), ICICI Bank (2.90 per cent), and Shriram Finance (2.80 per cent).

The IT sector faced significant pressure after sector heavyweight Infosys dropped 4.22 per cent, leading the losers’ pack. Other major decliners included Britannia (-1.98 per cent), Asian Paints (-1.87 per cent), Nestle India (-1.21 per cent), and Tech Mahindra (-0.82 per cent).