By IANS,
Mumbai : A benchmark index for Indian equities closed 2.09 percent higher Tuesday, backed by gains in auto and metal stocks.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 16,438.45 points, closed at 16,772.56 points, 343.01 points or 2.09 percent higher than its previous close at 16,429.55 points.
At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty ended trade at 5,017 points against the previous close at 4,922.3 points, a gain of 1.92 percent or 94.7 points.
Broader markets too saw a buying spree with the BSE midcap index ending 2.2 percent higher and the BSE small cap index closing 2.33 percent up.
Auto, metals and banking and FMCG stocks saw greater buying interest, with all 13 BSE sectoral indices ended in the green.
Auto companies particularly benefited after a host of manufacturers announced better than expected sales in February.
The market breadth was positive, with 2,063 stocks advancing, compared to 766 on the decline and 72 remaining unchanged.
Among the gainers on the 30-scrip Sensex were Tata Motors, up 12.1 percent at Rs.797.10; Tata Steel, up 6.18 percent at Rs.609.10; Hindalco, up 4.84 percent at Rs.169.05; and Tata Power, up 4.7 percent at Rs.1,270.
Top losers included DLF, down 1.65 percent at Rs.292.25; Reliance Infra, down 0.86 percent at Rs.995.35; Hindustan Unilever, down 0.62 percent at Rs.234.30; and ONGC, down 0.39 percent at Rs.1,112.65.
On the other hand, other Asian markets closed a mixed bag.
The benchmark Japanese index, Nikkei, ended 0.49 percent higher at 10,221.84 points, the South Korean Kospi closed 1.29 percent higher at 1,615.12 points.
However, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng shut shop 0.72 percent lower at 20,906.11 points, and the Chinese Shanghai composite index 0.48 percent down at 3,073.11 points.
European markets were trading on a flat note Tuesday.
Around closing bell here, the FTSE 100, the benchmark index of the London Stock Exchange, was ruling 0.22 percent higher at 5,417.94 points, while its German peer DAX was trading at 5,724.39 points, up 0.19 percent.
The French CAC 40 index was also ruling marginally higher at 3,775.16 points, up 0.15 percent.