India's Nifty 50, Sensex inch towards record highs; broader indexes outperform

BENGALURU, June 19 (Reuters) - Indias Nifty 50 and Sensex stock indexes advanced on Monday and inched towards fresh record highs, aided by broad-based gains, while broader peers extended their rally to record levels.

The blue-chip Nifty (.NSEI) index was up 0.05% at 18,835.55 as of 10:10 a.m. IST, while the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex (.BSESN) rose 0.04% to 63,411.90.

The Nifty 50 came within 10 points of the previous record high of 18,887.60.

Nine of the 13 major sectoral indexes advanced with high weightage financials (.NIFTYFIN) rising 0.2%.

Broader indexes outperformed their larger peers, with midcaps (.NIFMDCP100) rising over 0.6% to a fresh record high and smallcaps (.NIFSMCP100) hitting an over one-year high.

Meanwhile, global equities were mostly lower on caution ahead of Chinas rate decision on Tuesday and U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Powells congressional testimony on Wednesday and Thursday.

Analysts expect the rally in Indian markets to sustain, after a period of consolidation. “The indications are in favour of the prevailing tone to continue,” said Ajit Mishra, senior vice president, technical research at Religare Broking.

\“We are eyeing the 19,100 mark in Nifty and expect 18,400-18,550 zone to offer a cushion in case of profit taking.”

Among individual stocks, Jindal Steel and Power (JNSP.NS) jumped 5% after Kotak Insitutional Equities upgraded it to “buy” and raised target price to 740 rupees from 580 rupees.

Non-banking financial companies like Bajaj Finance (BJFN.NS) and Bajaj Finserv (BJFS.NS) rose over 2% each after several brokerages including Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan and HSBC reiterated a positive view on the sector.

On the other hand, Hero MotoCorp (HROM.NS) lost 2% and was the top Nifty 50 loser. The two-wheeler makers shares have fallen for four sessions in a row on a probe by the countrys corporate affairs ministry into alleged diversion of funds.