Sensex ends above 15K mark, RCap zooms 6.92%

Indian equities ended the day on a buoyant note. The 30-share BSE Sensex which opened on a negative, bounced back in the noon trade mirroring strong cues of European markets.

Major gainers in the sectoral indices were BSE Realty (3.29%), Capital Goods (3.23%) and Health Care (2.60%). Meanwhile, BSE Metal (2.11%), Consumer Durables (0.55%) and IT (0.52%) were major losers in the 30-share index.

BSE Midcap and Small too closed on a positive note higher by 2.26% and 2.20% respectively.

On the global front, European stocks advanced before today`s interest-rate decision from the European Central Bank.

J Sainsbury climbed more than 2.5% after Morgan Stanley recommended the stock. Rio Tinto Group dropped 1.5% as copper futures slipped in Shanghai for the first time in five days. UK`s benchmark index FTSE 100 gained 45.16 points, or 1.03%, to trade at 4,428.58. French benchmark index CAC 40 rose 34.25 points, or 1.03%, to trade at 3,343.90. Germany`s benchmark index DAX advanced 57.98 points, or 1.15% at 5,112.51. (2:58 p.m., IST)

The Sensex ended the day with a gain of 137.78 points, or 0.93% at 15,008.68 after touching a high of 15,026.03 and a low of 14,599.43. The broad-based NSE Nifty climbed 41.95 points, or 0.93% at 4,572.65 after hitting a high of 4,582.20 and a low of 4,453.45.

Biggest gainers in the 30-share index were Reliance Capital (6.92%), Ranbaxy Laboratories (6.06%), Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (4.14%), Hindustan Unilever (3.73%), Reliance Energy (3.39%), and Larsen & Toubro (3.30%).

On the other hand, Sterlite Industries (India) (5.91%), Hindalco Industries (3.54%), Tata Steel (3.53%), Wipro (1.26%), Infosys Technologies (1.15%), and Mahindra & Mahindra (1.11%) were the biggest losers in the Sensex.

Overall market breadth was positive. Out of the total 2,873 shares traded at BSE, 2,130 advanced, 688 declined while 55 remained unchanged.