Indian shares climb as US stimulus hopes boost global sentiment

BENGALURU: Indian shares touched a near five-month high on Tuesday, led by automaker and IT stocks, as markets across Asia and Europe gained on hopes for further US stimulus, which could help cushion the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

The NSE Nifty 50 index ended 1.52pc higher at 11,300.55, and the S&P BSE Sensex closed up 1.47pc at 38,492.95. Both indexes touched their highest levels since early March in the session.

Markets in Europe and Asia booked gains as investors wagered the US Federal Reserve would reaffirm its dovish stance this week, and a tolerance for higher inflation.

Europe's STOXX 600 eked out a 0.2pc rise after MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan ended up 0.8pc.

US Senate Republicans on Monday also proposed a $1 trillion coronavirus aid package as the virus pandemic has killed nearly 150,000 people in the country.

In Mumbai, the Nifty auto index rose 3.5pc, its highest since Feb. 25. Car makers Mahindra and Mahindra and Tata Motors gained about 4.7pc each.

India's second-most valuable stock Tata Consultancy Services rose as much as 5.1pc and pushed up the Nifty IT index nearly 2.5pc.

Ultratech Cement rose 7.2pc and topped the Nifty gainers after the company reported a better-than-expected profit for the quarter ended June.

ICICI Bank was the top laggard, shedding 1.8pc, followed by Bharti Infratel, which dropped 1.7pc.