Sensex, Nifty At Record Highs; Financials, Auto, Metal Stocks Strong

The Asian markets are in the green across the board and the European markets have also opened higher after US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell struck a more dovish tone on Friday, surpassing investors' expectations

The benchmark indices continued to trade at record highs on Monday afternoon on the back of positive global cues. The Asian markets are in the green across the board and the European markets have also opened higher after US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell struck a more dovish tone on Friday, surpassing investors' expectations. As of 1:45 pm, the BSE Sensex was trading at 56,700, higher by 578 points or 1 per cent and NSE Nifty had advanced 177 points or 1 per cent to 16,882. All the sectoral indices were trading in the green, with the exception of the IT index. The BSE metal index was the leading sectoral gainer on the BSE, surging more than 2 per cent. In the currency market, the rupee rose to its strongest in two-and-a-half months on Monday, after the U.S. Federal Reserve chairman's comments sparked bets of a slower reduction in monetary stimulus. The rupee was trading at 73.48/49 per dollar after touching 73.39 earlier in the day, its strongest level since June 16. The domestic currency had closed at 73.68 on Friday.