Sensex up 85.82 points, Nifty above 9100; bank stocks fall

Benchmark indices on Thursday ended on a positive note with the Sensex rising up 85.82 points at 29,422.39, while the NSE Nifty-50 Index was up 32.90 points at 9,136.40.

The broader BSE Midcap and the BSE Smallcap indices outperformed, gaining 0.6% and 1.1%, respectively. The market breadth was positive with 1,813 shares advanced while 1,054 shares declined and 174 shares unchanged.

Grasim Industries, GAIL India, Adani Ports and Bank of Baroda were top gainers on BSE and NSE, while Yes Bank, ICICI Bank and Axis Bank were the top losers. The Bank Nifty closed lower by 0.305 at 21,491.

Nifty Realty index rose 2.1% as the leading sectoral gainer, led by gains in Oberoi, Sobha, Realty and Godrej Property which has risen up to 8% on the NSE.

Aviation companies shares rose, i.e. Inter Globe Aviation (up 7%) Jet Airways (up 6%) Spice Jet (up 10%) after data showed that air traffic during March quarter was 18.6% higher than the corresponding period last year.