Mumbai, June 14 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities Monday
signed off on a buoyant note, extending its morning gains on the back of firm global cues and good buying in IT and the Reliance stocks.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,118.74 points, closed at 17,338.17 points, 273.22 points or 1.6 percent up from its previous close at 17,064.95 points.
It touched a high of 17,351.18 points minutes before the closing bell.
At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty ended at 5,197.7 points, up 1.53 percent from its previous close at 5,119.35 points.
Broader markets indices signified higher gains, with the BSE midcap index ending 0.91 percent higher and the BSE smallcap index 1.3 percent up.
IT, telecom, energy and metal stocks were in the positive, while healthcare scrips saw some selling.
The Reliance pack hogged the limelight with stocks of both Ambani brothers’ companies ending strong, after signs emanated that both brothers would collaborate in letter and spirit to help each other grow.
From the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani group, Reliance Infrastructure gained 4.25 percent, Reliance Communications 3.75 percent, Reliance Capital 6.35 percent, Reliance Power 6.9 percent and Reliance Natural Resources 17 percent.
Mukesh Ambani-controlled Reliance Industries was up 1.64 percent and Reliance Industrial Infrastructure 16.88 percent.
Sectorally, IT stocks led the gains. Infosys was up 4.32 percent at Rs.2,747.25 and Wipro, up 4.13 percent at Rs.673.60.
Among the losers were Bharti Airtel, down 1.73 percent at Rs.269.80; Tata Motors, down 0.63 percent at Rs.760.25; BHEL, down 0.28 percent at Rs.2,385.70; and Hero Honda, down 0.16 percent at Rs.2,009.20.
The market breadth was positive with 1,875 stocks advancing, 971 scrips declining and 120 remaining unchanged.
Asian markets were having a good run buoyed by positive US consumer data.
The Japanese Nikkei ended at 9,879.85 points, up 1.8 percent, while the South Korean Kospi closed at 1,690.6 points, 0.91 percent higher.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng shut shop 0.9 percent higher at 20,051.91 points. The Chinese markets were closed Monday.
European markets too gained strength as investor appetite improved amid strong euro zone industrial output numbers.
UK’s benchmark index, the FTSE 100 was ruling 0.41 percent higher at 5,184.8 points, while the French CAC 40 was up 1.24 percent at 3,599.72 points.
The German DAX was among gains, trading 0.94 percent higher at 6,104.95 points.
