By IANS,
Mumbai : A benchmark index for Indian equities Thursday gained for the second straight day, ending 1.68 percent higher than its previous close, tracking global markets which rose on positive US car and home sales data.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 16,786.28 points, ended at 17,022.33 points, 280.49 points or 1.68 percent up from its previous close at 16,741.84 points.
At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty ruled at 5,106.65 points, up 1.73 percent from its previous close at 5,019.85 points.
Broader markets indices too ended in the positive, with the BSE midcap index ending 1.1 percent up and the BSE smallcap index 1.15 percent higher.
All the 30 scrips on the Sensex gained.
Reliance Communications was again the top performer. For the second straight day the stock moved up, ending the day at Rs.164.45, a gain of 6.37 percent.
The stock has been in favour after news broke out that the company is planning to rope in a strategic foreign investor to fund its foray into 3G services or considering a merger with South Africa’s MTN.
The RCom stock had gained 11 percent Wednesday.
Other major gainers included Hindustan Unilever, up 4.02 percent at Rs.247.20; Tata Motors, up 3.06 percent at Rs.767.30, HDFC Bank, up 2.76 percent at Rs.1,906.05, and Sterlite Industries, up 2.51 percent at Rs.650.50.
According to data available with the markets watchdog, foreign institutional investors turned sellers Thursday, off-loading scrips worth 27.04 million.
Asian markets witnessed a rally after U.S. home sales data lifted investor confidence.
The Japanese Nikkei ended 3.24 percent higher at 9,914.19 points.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng closed at 19,821.76, up 1.8 percent.
The South Korean Kospi too ruled in the green, up 1.93 percent at 1,661.84 points.
However, the Shanghai composite index was down 0.73 percent at 2,552.66 points.
European markets opened strong, helped by buying in battered oil stocks and news of good economic data from the US.
The FTSE 100, a key index in UK was up 1.7 percent at 5,239.07 points, while its German peer DAX was ruling 1.72 percent up at 6,083.93 points.
The French CAC 40 too was up 2.22 percent at 3,579.27 points.