By IANS,
Mumbai : A benchmark index of Indian equities Wednesday closed with a 135-point gain, helped by foreign funds who bought $216 million worth of stocks. Mid and small cap scrips outperformed their bigger peers.
The 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 20,448.69 points, closed at 20,543.08 points, up 135.37 points or 0.66 percent from its previous close at 20,407.71 points.
It had soared to 20,669.95 points in morning trade.
Data available with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) showed that foreign institutional investors (FIIs) poured in $216.96 million into the equities markets Wednesday.
At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the 50-share S&P CNX Nifty ended trade at 6,186.45 points, up 0.66 percent.
Broader markets did relatively better. The BSE midcap closed 1.1 percent up and the BSE smallcap index 0.75 percent higher.
The market breadth was positive with 1,788 scrips advancing, compared to 1,202 stocks declining and 126 remaining unchanged.
Realty, metals, energy and capital goods stocks saw bulk of the buying. FMCG scrips came under selling pressure.
Top Sensex gainers were Jaiprakash Associates, up 6.69 percent at Rs.137.95; Sterlite Industries, up 3.95 percent at Rs.177.60; Hindalco Industries, up 3.62 percent at Rs.210.40 and Reliance Industries, up 2.09 percent at Rs.1,044.60.
Among the losers were M&M, down 0.77 percent at Rs.739.60; Hindustan Unilever, down 0.72 percent at Rs.301.25; SBI, down 0.54 percent at Rs.3,232.10, and Cipla, down 0.53 percent at Rs.327.45.
Hopes of supportive action by central banks of western economies helped boost sentiments in other Asian markets. The Bank of Japan Tuesday surprised many by cutting its benchmark lending rates.
The Japan’s Nikkei shut shop 1.81 percent higher at 9,691.43 points.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng closed 1.07 percent up at 22,880.41 points. The Chinese markets were closed Wednesday.
Hopes of the US Federal Reserve easing monetary policy helped boost trader sentiments in Europe.
Britain’s FTSE 100 was trading at 5,679.72 points, up 0.78 percent.
The German DAX was ruling 0.94 percent higher at 6,274.47 points and the French CAC 40 was trading at 3,774.25 points, up 1.13 percent from its previous close.