Market LIVE: Sensex up 150 pts, Nifty near 17,550; Energy pack leads

Asian Paints, Axis Bank, M&M, Tata Steel, ITC, HDFC, HUL, Nestle Dr Reddy’s, HCL Tech and Bajaj Finance were the top Sensex winners. JSW Steel, Hero Moto and Bajaj Auto were the additional Nifty gainers. 

On the flip side, Infosys, Reliance, Bajaj Finserv, L&T, PowerGrid, Hindalco, Apollo Hospitals, meanwhile, were the top laggards on the bourses. 

In the broader markets, the BSE MidCap and SmallCap indices also opened with mild gains, up to 0.6 per cent higher.  

Sectorally, all indices held marginal gains too. Nifty FMCG, Metals and Oil & Gas were the top gainers, while PSBs, Realty and healthcare were subdued. 

Among stocks, Max Healthcare slipped 5 per cent after reports said private equity fund KKR will sell $500 million worth of shares in the company via a block deal today. 

On the other hand, Nazara Technologies gained 2 per cent. Company’s subsidiary Nazara Pte Ltd (Nazara Singapore) will invest $2.5 million in BITKRAFT Funds, out of which $0.875 million will be invested upfront, while the of $1.625 million will be deployed over a period of three years.