Auto & FMCG stocks offer support as Sensex settles 131 points higher; Nifty tops 23,500

Investors traded cautiously amid sectoral swings. Sensex closed around 77,341, Nifty sealed the day at 23,538. Sectorally, the gains were led by auto stocks, whose index was up nearly 0.9% and the FMCG pack, which rose around 0.72%. The Nifty IT, metal, PSU bank and pharma indices spoiled the market mood.