The stock market on Saturday ended moderately higher in the first trading session of the new Samvat year 2066 as investors preferred to book profits to start their new accounts with gains.
The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex closed up by 3.19 points at 17,326.01 points after the one-hour special ’Mahurat’ trading convened to mark the start of new Samvat.
The index had opened higher by over 170 points.
The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty fell marginally by 0.35 points at 5,141.80 points.
Brokers said investors booked profits on the auspicious day of Diwali to mark gains in their new accounts.
They said investors made token transactions in brief trading after the Lakshmi pooja.
Shares in Teck, metal, consumer durable and IT sectors posted moderate gains helping the barometer to settle in the positive zone.
Realty, banking and capital goods sector stocks, which had recorded handsome gains in last few sessions, were major losers and capped the gains in the key index.
The stock and futures commodity markets will remain closed on Monday on account of Bhaidooj festival.
