By IANS,
New Delhi: A benchmark index for Indian equities markets Thursday rallied 192 points to close at a high not seen in almost six weeks on improved investor confidence and sustained foreign fund inflows.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Excahange (BSE), which opened at 16,573.87 points, closed at 16,643.74 points, 192.27 points or 1.17 percent up from its previous close at 16,451.47 points.
The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also closed lower at 5,018.4 points — up 1.26 percent or 62.6 points from its previous close.
According to data available with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), foreign institutional investors bought stocks worth $189.74 million. FIIs have pumped in over $1 billion in this month itself.
Broader markets also moved up with the BSE 500 index closing 1.34 percent higher from its previous close. The BSE midcap index ended 1.43 percent up and the BSE smallcap index slipped 1.24 percent.
Prominent gainers on the 30-scrip Sensex included Sterlite Industries, up 6.77 percent at Rs.115.20; Tata Power, up 6.08 percent at Rs.103.75; DLF, up 4.62 percent at Rs.210.45; and NTPC, up 4.19 percent at Rs.171.40.
Among losers were BHEL, down 2.71 percent at Rs.265.50; M&M, down 1.68 percent at Rs.674.40; Bharti Airtel, down 0.83 percent at Rs.342.05; and Infosys, down 0.71 percent at Rs.2,591.90.
The market breadth was positive with 1,809 stocks advancing, 982 on the decline and 133 remaining unchanged.
Asian markets were ruling mixed as investors grew cautious after overnight results from some US Banks showed weak quarterly earnings. But there was some good news as well with recent successful bond auctions conducted by Spain and Greece.
The Japanese Nikkei rose 1.04 percent and closed at 8,639.68 points, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng moved up 1.3 percent to close at 19,942.95 points.
The Chinese Shanghai Composite index rose 1.31 percent to end at 2,296.07 points.
European markets moved up but were ruling quiet at the time of filing this report. Investors cautiously eyed talks between Greece and its private creditors and ahead of bond auctions by Portugal and Germany.
Britain’s FTSE 100 was ruling 0.18 percent up at 5,712.48 points, while the German DAX was trading 0.16 percent up at 6,364.75 points.
The French CAC 40 was ruling 0.8 percent higher at 3,291.07 points.