<p>Equity benchmark Sensex rallied 308 points to end at a fresh record on Monday, tracking gains in index majors TCS, Infosys and HUL as investors cheered COVID-19 vaccine approvals.</p>.<p>Extending its rally to the ninth straight session, the 30-share BSE index ended 307.82 points or 0.64 per cent higher at 48,176.80. It touched a record intra-day peak of 48,220.47.</p>.<p>Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty jumped 114.40 points or 0.82 per cent to a lifetime high of 14,132.90. It scaled an all-time intra-day high of 14,147.95.</p>.<p>ONGC was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, rising around 4 per cent, followed by TCS, HCL Tech, Tech Mahindra, Infosys, M&M, HUL and L&T.</p>.<p>On the other hand, Kotak Bank, Bajaj Finance, Asian Paints, Titan and PowerGrid were among the laggards.</p>.<p>Experts said final approval for two Covid-19 vaccine and likely commencement of inoculation process soon are positives for the markets and economy.</p>.<p>India's drugs regulator on Sunday approved Oxford-AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine Covishield and indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in the country.</p>.<p>“Indian markets opened on a positive note following upbeat Asian market peers... During the afternoon session markets slipped as some selling was witnessed in key frontline banking stocks,” said Narendra Solanki, Head- Equity Research (Fundamental), Anand Rathi.</p>.<p>However, markets regained and further strengthened as the Nikkei India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), released during the day, rose to 56.4 in December as against 56.3 in November.</p>.<p>Also, cues from western markets helped in boosting the sentiments near closing session, he added.</p>.<p>Elsewhere in Asia, bourses in Shanghai, Seoul and Hong Kong ended on a positive note, while and Tokyo was in the red.</p>.<p>Stock exchanges in Europe opened with significant gains.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, the global oil benchmark Brent crude futures rose 1.31 per cent to USD 52.48 per barrel. </p>
<p>Equity benchmark Sensex rallied 308 points to end at a fresh record on Monday, tracking gains in index majors TCS, Infosys and HUL as investors cheered COVID-19 vaccine approvals.</p>.<p>Extending its rally to the ninth straight session, the 30-share BSE index ended 307.82 points or 0.64 per cent higher at 48,176.80. It touched a record intra-day peak of 48,220.47.</p>.<p>Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty jumped 114.40 points or 0.82 per cent to a lifetime high of 14,132.90. It scaled an all-time intra-day high of 14,147.95.</p>.<p>ONGC was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, rising around 4 per cent, followed by TCS, HCL Tech, Tech Mahindra, Infosys, M&M, HUL and L&T.</p>.<p>On the other hand, Kotak Bank, Bajaj Finance, Asian Paints, Titan and PowerGrid were among the laggards.</p>.<p>Experts said final approval for two Covid-19 vaccine and likely commencement of inoculation process soon are positives for the markets and economy.</p>.<p>India's drugs regulator on Sunday approved Oxford-AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine Covishield and indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in the country.</p>.<p>“Indian markets opened on a positive note following upbeat Asian market peers... During the afternoon session markets slipped as some selling was witnessed in key frontline banking stocks,” said Narendra Solanki, Head- Equity Research (Fundamental), Anand Rathi.</p>.<p>However, markets regained and further strengthened as the Nikkei India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), released during the day, rose to 56.4 in December as against 56.3 in November.</p>.<p>Also, cues from western markets helped in boosting the sentiments near closing session, he added.</p>.<p>Elsewhere in Asia, bourses in Shanghai, Seoul and Hong Kong ended on a positive note, while and Tokyo was in the red.</p>.<p>Stock exchanges in Europe opened with significant gains.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, the global oil benchmark Brent crude futures rose 1.31 per cent to USD 52.48 per barrel. </p>