Share Market Highlights 18 July 2024: Sensex soars to 81,343, Nifty sets new high at 24,800; IT stocks lead rally

On July 18, 2024, the Indian stock markets extended their record-breaking run as the Sensex surged past 81,000 for the first time, closing at 81,343.46 with a gain of 626.91 points. The Nifty also achieved a milestone, ending at 24,800.85, up 187.85 points. Investor enthusiasm was bolstered by strong performances in IT, oil & gas, and FMCG sectors. Leading IT stocks like TCS and Infosys drove the rally, supported by positive earnings reports and favorable FII flows amid expectations of a US Fed rate cut. Despite some sectors lagging, overall sentiment remained bullish with both indices marking new highs consistently.