Mumbai, June 30 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities markets climbed 152 points Thursday, closing in the positive for the sixth consecutive session, led by good buying support from institutional investors on the back of firm global cues.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) which opened at 18,741.1 points, closed at 18,845.87 points, up 152.01 points or 0.81 percent from its previous close at 18,693.86 points.
This is the sixth straight gain-making session for the Sensex.
The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange closed 0.84 percent or 46.95 points higher at 5,647.40 points.
Broader markets also closed in the positive with the BSE midcap index gaining 0.32 percent and the BSE smallcap index up 0.57 percent.
There was a good buying support in FMCG, realty, and IT stocks. Among the sectoral indices, the FMCG index was the top gainer with a nearly two percent rise. The BSE realty index climbed 1.19 percent and the IT index rose 0.69 percent.
Hindustan Unilever jumped 3.18 percent at Rs.342.75. Jaiprakash Asso, up 3.79 percent at Rs.80.85; Jindal Steel, up 3.13 percent at Rs.651.15; Tata Power, up 1.68 percent at Rs.1,303.60; Hero Honda, up 1.63 percent at Rs.1,877.75 and ITC, up 1.61 percent at Rs.202.45 were major gainers on the Sensex.
Eight of the 30 Sensex scrips closed in the red. ONGC, down 1.62 percent at Rs.273.95; Maruti Suzuki, down 1.54 percent at Rs.1,158.45; Bharti Airtel, down 1.52 percent at Rs.395.25 and Wipro, down 0.61 percent at Rs.417.60 were among the major losers.
Markets rallied across the world on the decline in crude oil prices and positive macro-economic cues.
Among the Asian markets, the Nikkei of the Japanese stock exchange closed 0.19 percent higher at 9,816.09 points
The Hang Seng of the Hong Kong stock exchange climbed 1.53 percent at 22,398.10 points and the Chinese Shanghai composite index ended 1.23 percent higher at 2,762.08 points.
European markets were also in the positive. Britain’s FTSE100 was up 0.69 percent at 5,896.43 points, the French CAC 40 was ruling 0.32 percent higher at 3,936.73 and the German DAX was up 0.14 percent at 7,304.46 points.
