Equity indices up 1.5 pc led by gains in Reliance, Bajaj twins

Equity benchmark indices advanced by 1.5 per cent on Friday led by gains in Reliance Industries which become net debt-free ahead of its March 2021 target.

The BSE S-P Sensex was up by 524 points or 1.53 per cent at 34,732 while the Nifty 50 edged higher by 153 points or 1.51 per cent at 10,224.

Except for Nifty IT and metal, all sectoral indices at the National Stock Exchange were in the green with Nifty realty up by 6.4 per cent, PSU bank by 2.2 per cent, financial service by 1.5 per cent and auto by 1.4 per cent.

Among stocks, Reliance Industries rose by 6.48 per cent to touch Rs 1,763.20 per share as it became net debt-free after a record Rs 1.69 lakh crore fundraising in less than two months through stake sales in the digital arm and a rights issue.