Sensex up 231 points; auto, bank stocks rally

Mumbai, Nov 29 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities markets Thursday was up 231 points following a healthy buying spree in automobiles, banks, metals, capital goods and oil and gas stocks.

The 30−scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,873.63 points, was ruling at 19,073.67 points around 1.00 p.m., up 231.59 points or 1.23 percent from its previous close at 18,842.08 points.

The benchmark index touched a high of 19,110.28 points and low of 18,873.63 points intra−day. The BSE midcap index was up 71.33 points, the smallcap index was higher by 40.70 points.

The wider 50−scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was up 62.80 points or 1.10 percent at 5,790.25 points.

The auto index was up 208.88 points, while the bank index edged higher by 199.60 points, followed by metals index, up 161.08 points, capital goods index, up 145.67 points and oil and gas index, higher by 102.21 points.

However, information technology (IT) and media, entertainment and communication stocks were down. IT index, down 33.91 points and media, entertainment and communication (TECk), down 11.73 points.

Among other Asian markets, Japan’s Nikkei rose 0.99 percent, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 0.81 percent. However, China’s Shanghai Composite Index was down 0.51 percent.

IANS 2012-11-29 13:40:30