Barometers inch up despite early dip, budget hopes fuel sectoral churn

Domestic stocks clawed their way back after a shaky start today, closing with modest gains. The Nifty 50 even dipped to 23,350 in early trade but recovered by midday, fueled by auto, consumer durables, and FMCG stocks. Sectoral shuffling was seen as investors weighed pre-budget expectations and hunted for bargains. The Sebi's probe into Quant Mutual Fund cast a minor shadow, but overall, the mood was cautiously optimistic.