Diwali 2013: Top Nifty gainers and losers of Samvat 2069

The BSE Sensex hit an all-time high on Friday, while the broader Nifty benchmark is just 50 points away from its record high. Needless to say, the last year, or Samvat 2069 according to the Hindu calendar, has been good for investors. It must be added here that it has not been a one-way street for stocks and most of the gains have come in the last two months and from a few key sectors -- IT (44 per cent), Pharma (31 per cent), FMCG (17.3 per cent) and auto (14.7 per cent). Despite the divergence, the Sensex has gained 13 per cent and the Nifty is up 11 per cent since Diwali last year.

Here's a look at the best performers in Samvat 2069.

1) Sun Pharma: The drug maker has gained 78 per cent in the past twelve months. Pharma companies are a defensive play and because they have such a strong presence in the US generic market, they also gain from rupee weakness.

2) HCL Tech: India's fourth largest outsourcer has gained 75 per cent in the last twelve months. IT stocks have been the biggest beneficiary of the depreciating currency, which hit a record low on August 28. Most IT majors reported strong quarterly numbers in October on account of rupee weakness.

3) TCS: India's biggest outsourcer is up 56.7 per cent over the last year. TCS is now India's biggest company by market capitalization.

4) Lupin: The drug-maker has gained 54 per cent over the last year.

5) Wipro: Billionaire Azim Premji promoted Wipro gained around 45 per cent over the last year despite facing growth headwinds in its key IT business.

Here's a look at the worst performers in Samvat 2069.

1) JP Assocaties: The Noida-based infrastructure firm is current trading at half of its year-ago price because of the slump in the Indian economy. It is also struggling with large debt, which has been a big drag on the stock over the last year.

2) BHEL: The state-run power equipment maker has shed 40 per cent since last Diwali because of falling orders.

3) IDFC: The infra-lender is down 37 per cent over the last 12 months.

4) Jindal Steel and Power: The stock is down over 36 per cent over the last year tracking the slowdown in India's economy. The stock has seen sharp selloff since the company and its promoter Naveen Jindal was named as a beneficiary in the coal scam.

5) Punjab National Bank: Public sector banks have been out of favour because of rising bad loans. Over the past year, the stock has fallen 35 per cent.