<p>Equity benchmark Sensex rallied 546 points to finish above the 54,000-mark for the first time on Wednesday, tracking strong gains in financial stocks amid positive cues from global markets.</p>.<p>After scaling its lifetime peak of 54,465.91 during the session, the 30-share index ended 546.41 points or 1.02 per cent higher at a record 54,369.77.</p>.<p>Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty surged 128.05 points or 0.79 per cent to its all-time peak of 16,246.85. It touched a lifetime intra-day high of 16,290.20.</p>.<p>HDFC was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, surging around 5 per cent, followed by Kotak Bank, ICICI Bank, SBI, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank.</p>.<p>On the other hand, Titan, Nestle India, Ultratech Cement and Sun Pharma were among the laggards.</p>.<p>Domestic equities extended gains with benchmarks Sensex and Nifty scaling fresh high mainly on the back of sharp rebound in heavyweight financials, said Binod Modi, Head - Strategy at Reliance Securities.</p>.<p>He noted that financials were the sole driving force for the market rally, which was triggered after better-than-expected June quarter performance reported by SBI.</p>.<p>The country's biggest bank posted a 55 per cent rise in standalone net profit at Rs 6,504 crore for the first quarter of the current financial year, helped by decline in bad loans.</p>.<p>Further, positive cues from global equities also lifted sentiments, Modi stated.</p>.<p>Elsewhere in Asia, bourses in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Seoul ended with gains, while Tokyo was in the red.</p>.<p>Equities in Europe were also in the green in afternoon trade.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, international oil benchmark Brent crude advanced 0.18 per cent to $72.28 per barrel.</p>
<p>Equity benchmark Sensex rallied 546 points to finish above the 54,000-mark for the first time on Wednesday, tracking strong gains in financial stocks amid positive cues from global markets.</p>.<p>After scaling its lifetime peak of 54,465.91 during the session, the 30-share index ended 546.41 points or 1.02 per cent higher at a record 54,369.77.</p>.<p>Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty surged 128.05 points or 0.79 per cent to its all-time peak of 16,246.85. It touched a lifetime intra-day high of 16,290.20.</p>.<p>HDFC was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, surging around 5 per cent, followed by Kotak Bank, ICICI Bank, SBI, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank.</p>.<p>On the other hand, Titan, Nestle India, Ultratech Cement and Sun Pharma were among the laggards.</p>.<p>Domestic equities extended gains with benchmarks Sensex and Nifty scaling fresh high mainly on the back of sharp rebound in heavyweight financials, said Binod Modi, Head - Strategy at Reliance Securities.</p>.<p>He noted that financials were the sole driving force for the market rally, which was triggered after better-than-expected June quarter performance reported by SBI.</p>.<p>The country's biggest bank posted a 55 per cent rise in standalone net profit at Rs 6,504 crore for the first quarter of the current financial year, helped by decline in bad loans.</p>.<p>Further, positive cues from global equities also lifted sentiments, Modi stated.</p>.<p>Elsewhere in Asia, bourses in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Seoul ended with gains, while Tokyo was in the red.</p>.<p>Equities in Europe were also in the green in afternoon trade.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, international oil benchmark Brent crude advanced 0.18 per cent to $72.28 per barrel.</p>