Nifty settled above 20,100 on expiry day,Sensex ends 86 pts higher

The Indian equity benchmark indices climbed in early trade on Thursday but later gave up all the gains to quote lower on emergence of profit-taking amid the scheduled monthly derivatives expiry and muted trend in the US markets.At close, the Sensex was up 86.53 points or 0.13 percent at 66,988.44, and the Nifty was up 36.55 points or 0.18 percent at 20,133.15.
Stocks and Sectors
UltraTech Cement, HDFC Life, Sun Pharma, Apollo Hospitals and Eicher Motors were the top gainers on the Nifty, while losers included IndusInd Bank, Adani Enterprises, Adani Ports, Reliance Industries and Power Grid Corporation.
On the sectoral front PSU Bank index was down 1.5 percent, while pharma, capital goods, realty and oil & gas indices added 1-1.5 percent each.BSE Midcap index gained 0.8 percent and smallcap index rose 1 percent.
On 30 Nov'23,the Indian rupee depreciated 7 paise,to end at a lifetime closing low, at 83.39 against US dollar on Thursday and was the worst performer among key Asian peers in November which have rallied amid a slump in US yields and the greenback  and rising crude oil prices.
Likely intervention from the Reserve Bank of India limited further downside for the local unit on Thursday, forex traders said.
Experts Take:
Market experts have recommended six stocks to buy for Thursday- ICICI Bank, AU Bank, SBI, SAIL, FSL and CCL Products.

(Writer is a Finance Research Analyst, based in Gandhinagar, Gujarat)