Sensex, Nifty close at a record high

The Sensex ended the session higher with gains led by HDFC, TCS and Tata Motors. IT, FMCG and realty stocks gained, while oil & gas edged lower. It opened with a gain of 63.92 points, at 16,805.22 on Tuesday taking positive cues from Asian market. The index continued to trade in the green the entire day on sustained buying interest seen in index heavyweights. Both the benchmarks Sensex and Nifty touched sixteen month high of 16,943.49 and 5,036.30 respectively. The opening of positive European markets also helped the sentiment.

BSE Midcap and Smallcap index rose 0.74% and 1.05% respectively.

Asian stocks ended mixed. Few of the Asian stocks rose for the first time in three days as brokerage upgrades fueled speculation that regional equities can extend a six-month rally. Japanese benchmark index Nikkei fell 81.09 points, or 0.78%, to end at 10,312.14. Hong Kong`s Hang Seng index climbed 218.77 points, or 1.04%, to close at 20,851.04. China`s Shanghai Composite decreased 15.78 points, or 0.54% to settle at 2,946.26.

European stocks rose amid signs the global economy is recovering. UK`s benchmark index FTSE 100 rose 50.12 points, or 0.98%, to trade at 5,184.76. French benchmark index CAC 40 climbed 36.17 points, or 0.95%, to trade at 3,848. Germany`s benchmark index DAX gained 77.18 points, or 1.36%, to trade at 5,746.92. (4.25 p.m., IST)

The Sensex ended the day with a gain of 145.13 points, or 0.87% at 16,886.43 after touching a high of 16,943.49 and a low of 16,763.78. The broad-based NSE Nifty climbed 44.15 points, or 0.89% at 5,020.20 after hitting a high of 5,036.30 and a low of 4,977.10.

Major gainers in the 30-share index were Housing Development Finance Corporation (5.30%), Tata Consultancy Services (2.92%), Tata Motors (2.60%), ITC (2.59%), Infosys Technologies (1.77%), and HDFC Bank (1.50%).

On the other hand, Bharti Airtel (3.28%), Jaiprakash Associates (2.67%), Hindalco Industries (0.58%), Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (0.47%), Sterlite Industries (India) (0.25%), and Reliance Industries (0.11%) were the major losers in the Sensex.

Overall market breadth was positive. Out of the total 2,862 stocks traded at BSE, 1,605 advanced, 1,176 declined while 81 remained unchanged.