<ul>
<li>Indian benchmark indices ended at record closing highs on Thursday with both the benchmarks Sensex and Nifty surging over 1.6 percent each.</li>
<li>The surge comes after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced a substantial ₹2.1 lakh crore dividend to the government.</li>
<li>"The infusion of funds is akin to an indirect rate cut for the economy, as it is expected to lead to a reduction in bond yields," said Santosh Meena, Head of Research at Swastika Investmart Ltd.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Indian stock markets hit record highs as RBI announces substantial dividend payout.</strong></p>
<h2><strong>Sensex and Nifty Reach New Heights</strong></h2>
<p>On Thursday, the S&P BSE Sensex ended 1,197 points or 1.61 percent higher at 75,418.04, hitting a record high of 75,499.91 in intra-day deals. Similarly, the broader Nifty surged 370 points or 1.64 percent higher to end at 22,967.65, reaching a new high of 22,993.60 during the day.</p>
<h3><strong>Impact of RBI's Dividend Announcement</strong></h3>
<p>The RBI's announcement of a ₹2.1 lakh crore dividend to the government is seen as a significant macroeconomic positive. This development is expected to reduce the fiscal deficit and lower bond yields, which in turn could have a broad positive impact across financial markets. Santosh Meena from Swastika Investmart Ltd. noted that this infusion of funds is akin to an indirect rate cut for the economy.</p>
<h2><strong>Market Sentiment and Sectoral Performance</strong></h2>
<p>Market sentiment, particularly in the banking sector, improved substantially following the RBI's announcement. The dividend payout is expected to help the government reduce its fiscal deficit and increase capital expenditure. Additionally, a continuous decline in crude oil prices has raised expectations of a reduction in U.S. inflation figures, potentially prompting the U.S. monetary authorities to lower the key benchmark rate sooner than anticipated.</p>
<h3><strong>Stocks and Sectors Performance</strong></h3>
<p>On the BSE Sensex, only three stocks—Sun Pharma, Power Grid Corp., and NTPC—closed in the red. The top gainers were Mahindra & Mahindra, Larsen & Toubro, Axis Bank, Maruti Suzuki India, and UltraTech Cement. On the Nifty 50, the top gainers included Adani Enterprise, Adani Ports & SEZ, Maruti Suzuki India, Eicher Motors, and Axis Bank.</p>
<h3><strong>Future Outlook</strong></h3>
<p>With Nifty already crossing 22,900, some experts believe favorable election outcomes with positive macros can lead to Nifty hitting the 24,000 mark. Despite continuous selling by Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) in the cash market, there is now an anticipation that they may shift to buying, providing additional support to the market. Investors are advised to focus on heavyweight stocks and remain selective in the mid-cap and small-cap segments.</p>
<h3><strong>Conclusion</strong></h3>
<p>The Indian stock market's record highs are driven by the RBI's substantial dividend announcement and improved market sentiment. With favorable election outcomes and positive macroeconomic indicators, the Nifty index may witness further expansion, potentially reaching the 24,000 mark. Investors should focus on quality stock acquisitions and remain cautious in the mid-cap and small-cap segments.</p>
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