Amid volatility on the day of the March 2017 derivatives contract expiry, Indian equity markets closed on a bullish note for the third consecutive trade session yesterday.
On expiry of March 2017 series contracts in the futures and options (F&O) segment, healthy roll-overs were witnessed to April 2017 series, which uplifted investors’ sentiments.
Besides, the passage of the Goods and Services Tax Bill 2017 – a major tax reform in the country, continuous inflow of funds and healthy buying in consumer durables, banking and capital goods sectors aided the key indices to hold on to their gains. 
The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was up 29.95 points or 0.33% at 9,173.75 points.
The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 29,538.03 points, closed at 29,647.42 points – up 115.99 points or 0.39%, from the previous close at 29,531.43 points. The Sensex touched a high of 29,684.54 points and a low of 29,521.65 points during the intra-day trade.
The BSE market breadth was bullish – with 1,729 advances and 999 declines.
In terms of the broader markets, the S&P BSE mid-cap index was up 0.39% and the small-cap index edged higher by 0.95%.
“March derivative series rollover pulled up the market which already had favourable fundamental push behind it. Fund flows continued to be strong despite expectation that there could be withdrawal on account of the taxation treaty signed by the Indian government with Singapore and Mauritius,” Vijay Singhania, founder and director of brokerage firm Trade Smart Online, told IANS.
“Continuous inflow of foreign money has caused the rupee to strengthen. Rupee traded at 64.94, below the psychologically important 65-mark.”
On the currency front, the Indian rupee closed on a flat note at 64.92 against a US dollar from its previous close of 64.90-91 to a greenback.



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