Indian equity shares hit a record high for a fifth consecutive session on Tuesday after a deal that could open the door for US companies to build nuclear reactors in the country boosted firms expected to benefit such as Larsen & Toubro.

Shares were also helped later in the session by a rally in Maruti Suzuki, which rose as much as 2.7 per cent to a record high, after adjusted EBITDA margins came in broadly in line with estimates.

Domestic sentiment was also buoyed by heavy caital inflows and on optimism over upcoming Budget and quarterly earnings amid positive domestic factors and mixed global cues.

The BSE index closed higher by 292.20 points or 1.00 per cent at 29,571.04, after gaining as much as 1.16 per cent to hit a record high of 29,618.59.

The broader NSE index rose for an eight consecutive session, matching its winning streak in mid-July. It closed 74.91 points or 0.85 percent higher at 8,910.50, closing above the 8,900-mark for the first time. Earlier in the day, it had hit a record high at 8,925.05.

Stocks of banking, capital goods, auto and FMCG sectors led the Sensex rally. Bouts of profit-booking was witnessed in IT, TECk, metal and PSU stocks.

Major Sensex gainers were Axis Bank 4.83%, Cipla 4.62%, ICICI Bank 3.58%, ITC 3.01% and HDFC Bank 2.98%, while the top five losers were Dr Reddy's 4.01%, Infosys 3.53%, M&M 2.81%, Coal India 2.77% and HUL 2.18%.

Brokers said that the domestic sentiment remained upbeat on sustained capital inflows amid optimism over upcoming Budget and corporate earnings amid Prime Minister Narendra Modi promising an open business environment and predictable tax regime in his meeting yesterday with US President Barack Obama.

Meanwhile, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth Rs 2,019.98 crore last Friday as per provisional data.

Global markets

European shares opened steady on Tuesday as mixed corporate updates from firms, including Siemens and Ericsson, tempered investors’ appetite for stocks after an eight-day rally.

Most Asian stocks werefirm amid optimism that the actions of Greece’s new government may indicate the nation not leaving the euro currency bloc.

Key benchmark indices in Singapore, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea rose 0.02 per cent to 1.45 per cent, while those in China, Hong Kong and Indonesia fell 0.17 per cent to 1.88 per cent.

The US Federal Reserve starts a two-day policy meeting on Tuesday and investors are keen to hear its take on the rash of policy easings from the euro zone to Canada and Switzerland.

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