By IANS
Mumbai : With Indian equities on a major upswing, the key sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) breached the magic figure of 15,000 points Friday for the first time ever. The major index, however, ended the day at 14,964.12, up 102 points from Thursday's close, with technology stocks making a revival.
The key index opened on a positive note and rose further in the opening hour of trading. Despite some initial hiccups the upward climb continued till the Sensex breached the magic level at 15,007.22 points during intra-day trade.
But some minor profit taking dragged the index down slightly to close at 14,964.12 levels, 102.23 points or 0.69 percent higher than the previous day's close at 14,861.89 points.
The broad-based 50-issue National Stock Exchange index Nifty gained 0.7 percent or 30 points to settle at 4,384 after hitting an all-time high of 4,411.
"The markets will move up gradually, but there will be some corrections. Technology stocks picked up to move the Sensex. I don't see a problem in the Indian market in long term," said Hemant Desai, an analyst.
It took the Sensex 144 sessions from Dec 6, 2006 to July 6 to cross the magic figure of 15,000 as compared to 36 sessions to move from 13,000 to 14,000 levels.
The BSE technology index was the top gainer with the country's fourth largest software exporter Satyam Computers leading the pack, up 5.40 percent at Rs.489.20, followed by its rival TCS, up 4.44 percent at Rs.1,159.05, and another software exporter Wipro, up 3.02 percent at Rs.519.45.
Private sector lender HDFC Bank, cement majors ACC and Gujarat Ambuja Cements, thermal energy producer NTPC, engineering and construction major L&T, private telecom service provider Bharti Airtel also ended firm.
The country's second largest lender ICICI Bank led the major Sensex losers, down 2.37 percent at Rs.981.55, followed by drug major Cipla, down 1.92 percent at Rs.212.10, and carmaker Maruti Udyog, down 1.88 percent at Rs.790.10.
Those who traded in the green were housing finance company HDFC, steel major Tata Steel, hospitality and tobacco major ITC, leading drug maker Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, electrical equipment maker BHEL and oil and gas major ONGC.