Benchmark equity indices soared on Thursday, driven by the Nifty's record high and the Sensex's significant rise of over 800 points. This rally followed the Reserve Bank of India's approval of an unprecedented Rs 2.11 lakh crore dividend to the government, bolstered by strong buying in blue-chip stocks like Reliance Industries and HDFC Bank.
The NSE Nifty surged 262.85 points, or 1.16%, to a historic peak of 22,860.65. Meanwhile, the 30-share BSE Sensex reclaimed the 75,000 mark, climbing 844.3 points or 1.13% to 75,065.36, nearing its all-time high. Key gainers among the Sensex components included Larsen & Toubro, Axis Bank, IndusInd Bank, Maruti, Mahindra & Mahindra, HDFC Bank, Bajaj Finserv, State Bank of India, and Reliance Industries.
The Reserve Bank of India's record dividend, more than twice the expected amount, is set to significantly boost government revenue as a new administration prepares to take office. Despite this positive domestic news, concerns linger over persistent inflation as highlighted in the recent US Federal Reserve meeting minutes.
In the broader Asian markets, Tokyo saw gains, while Seoul, Shanghai, and Hong Kong recorded declines. The previous session saw the BSE benchmark rise 267.75 points, or 0.36%, to close at 74,221.06, while the NSE Nifty added 68.75 points, or 0.31%, to finish at 22,597.80.
