The Sensex and Nifty closed at their highest in 18 months on Thursday, tracking gains in regional equities, as better-than-expected Chinese trade data boosted companies such as Tata Steel.

The benchmark BSE index ended 118.92 points or 0.41 per cent higher at 29,045.28, while the broader NSE index closed up 34.55 points or 0.39 per cent at 8,952.50, their highest closing levels since early March 2015.

Both indexes fell as much as 0.25 per cent earlier in the session.

Among BSE sectoral indices, realty index gained the most by 3.03 per cent, healthcare 2.2 per cent, consumer durables 1.19 per cent and FMCG 1.00 per cent. On the other hand, IT index was down 2.49 per cent, TECk 1.81 per cent and banking 0.04 per cent.

Top five Sensex gainers were Sun Pharma (+3.69%), Bajaj Auto (+3.55%), Tata Steel (+3.32%), Maruti (+2.71%) and Lupin (+2.44%), while the major losers were (-5.14%), GAIL (-1.92%), Wipro (-1.77%), Infosys (-1.62%) and NTPC (-0.96%).

TCS shares plunged as the company has given a cautious outlook for the coming quarters, stating that clients are holding back on discretionary spending.

Global markets

Better than expected trade numbers from China kept Asian stock markets near one-year peaks on Thursday while helping prod those in Europe higher ahead of a European Central Bank decision that may hint at, or even deliver, more monetary stimulus.

However, trading back home was choppy after shares hit an 18-month high on Wednesday as foreign institutional investors net bought shares worth $6.30 billion so far in the calendar year.

“Markets have moved up significantly in recent days, so a bit of consolidation is happening at current levels. But I don't expect any huge correction from current levels as liquidity remains supportive", said Sudip Bandyopadhyay, chairman and managing director of Inditrade Capital.

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