By IANS,
Mumbai : A benchmark index for Indian equities markets advanced 1.46 percent Monday, led by good buying support in energy and metal stocks as global crude oil price declined.
The 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened in the red at 18,167.10 points, notched up gains within a few minutes of trading and ended the day at 18,439.48 points, up 1.46 percent or 265.39 points from the previous close of 18,174.09 points.
The benchmark Sensex touched a high of 18,463.84 points and low of 18,155.43 points in the intraday.
At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty closed 1.58 percent or 86.05 points at 5,531.50 points.
There was strong buying support in oil and gas, metal, IT and banking stocks. Oil and Gas index of the BSE climbed 2.24 percent while the BSE metal index advanced over two percent. The BSE IT index rose 1.48 percent and the Bankex climbed 1.36 percent.
Of the broader markets, the BSE midcap index gained nearly half a percent and the BSE smallcap index closed 0.26 percent higher.
Reliance Comm surged nearly six percent to close at Rs.101.85.
Other top gainers on the Sensex were: Reliance Infra, up 3.70 percent at Rs.627; Tata Power, up 3.65 percent at Rs.1,248; Tata Steel, up 3.44 percent at Rs.602; Jaiprakash Asso, up 2.75 percent at Rs.84.20; and RIL, up 2.71 percent at Rs.1,018.50.
Only four of the 30 Sensex scrips closed in the red. The Sensex losers were Bharti Airtel, down 0.40 percent at Rs.321.55; Hindustan Unilever, down 0.16 percent at Rs.277.50; ONGC, down 0.14 percent at Rs.280.90; and Hero Honda, down 0.06 percent at Rs.1,531.15.