Sensex may strike 15,000

The Sensex may strike the psychologically important 15,000 mark today, as buying is expected to continue for the sixth straight session. The barometer index is now just 119.76 points away from the 15,000 mark.

Sensex rose 73.73 points or 0.50% at 14,880.24, an all time closing high, on Wednesday, 4 July 2007. Sensex has gained 449 points or 3.11% in 5 trading sessions to 14,880.24, from its close of 14,431.06 on 27 June 2007.

Firm global markets, steady progress of monsoon, fresh build-up of long positions in derivatives and lower inflation, were some of the factors contributing to the recent rally. Annual inflation fell to a 14-month low of 4.03% in mid-June 2007, well below a two-year high of 6.69% in January 2007.

Most of the Asian indices were trading higher on Thursday, 5 July 2007. Japan's Nikkei 225 index advanced as shares of exporters such as Sony Corp. and machinery makers such as Komatsu extended gains, while stocks in South Korea and Taiwan extended their record run from Wednesday. Nikkei gained 0.55% at 18,268.83.

Hang Seng (up 0.15% at 22,250.98), South Korea's Seoul Composite (up 1.18% at 1,860.09), Taiwan's Taiwan Weighted (up 0.21% at 9,087.96) and Singapore's Straits Times (up 0.35% at 3,567.45), all edged higher.

US markets were closed on Wednesday, 4 July 2007 for the Independence Day holiday.

As per provisional data, FIIs were net buyers of equities worth Rs 723.85-crore on Wednesday, 4 July 2007 while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net sellers of equities to the tune of Rs 397.14 crore on that day.