Sensex ends 32 points higher in volatile trade, Nifty near 21,750

The Indian equity benchmark indices ended the first day of the New Year on slightly higher note in the highly volatile session. At close, the Sensex was up 31.68 points or 0.04 percent at 72,271.94, and the Nifty was up 10.50 points or 0.05 percent at 21,741.90.
Stocks and Sectors
Nestle India, Adani Enterprises, Adani Ports, Tech Mahindra and Wipro were among the top gainers on the Nifty, while losers included Eicher Motors, Bharti Airtel, M&M, Bajaj Auto and HDFC Bank.
On the sectoral front, healthcare and PSU Bank rose 0.5 percent each, while the bank index shed 0.5 percent.Broader indices, BSE Midcap and Smallcap indices touched fresh record highs of 37,171.97 and 43,094.79, respectively, and outperformed the main indices with a 0.5 percent gain.
On 01 Jan'23,the Indian rupee started the new year on a flat note and depreciated 3 paise to 83.19 against the US dollar in the morning session, amid a negative trend in domestic equities and dollar demand from importers.
Forex traders said the rupee is trading in a narrow range as the support from easing crude oil prices was negated by the strength of the American currency in the overseas market.
Experts Take:
Market experts have recommended six stocks to buy for Monday - Zydus Life, Voltas, Bharat Forge, Indiabulls Housing Finance, United Spirits and IEX.

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