Sensex closes 215 points up, near nine-month high

Mumbai, June 1 (IANS) A key index of the Indian equities markets closed near its nine-month high Monday, as investors continued to buy scrips across sectors.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 14,746.51 points, ended at 14,840.63 points - 215.38 points or 1.47 percent above Friday's close.

The S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) followed the Sensex to end in the green, rising 1.82 percent to 4,529.9 points.

Broader market indices did better, with the BSE midcap index ending trade 2.92 percent higher than its last closing figure, and the BSE smallcap index closing 3.51 percent up.

The Sensex touched an intra-day high of 14,906.81 points and a low of 14,655.49.

Of the 13 sectoral indices on the BSE, the index for realty, metal and IT stocks were among the gainers, while banking and healthcare stocks came under selling pressure.

There were six gainers on the Sensex, prominent among them being Tata Steel, up 7.79 percent at Rs.437.95; Sterlite, up 6.75 percent at Rs.664.75; ACC, up 6.4 percent at Rs.833.10; and NTPC, up 6.17 percent at Rs.228.75.

Losers included ICICI Bank, down 2.36 percent at Rs.723.20; BHEL, down 2.27 percent at Rs.2,125.60; Bharti Airtel, down 1.67 percent at Rs.805.95; and Ranbaxy, down 1.51 percent at Rs.274.60.

The overall market breadth was positive, with 2,289 scrips advancing, 542 declining and 40 remaining unchanged.

Data with the market watchdog, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), showed foreign funds bought shares worth $176.40 million Monday.

The NSE's Volatility Index - a measure of the market's expectation of volatility over the short term - stood at 41.83 points as of Monday, higher than the 35-point mark that indicates risk.

Other Asian markets were also in the red, with a key index of Tokyo markets, the Nikkei, shutting shop 155.25 points in the green at 9,677.75 points.

The Hang Seng, the primary index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, also rose 717.59 points to 18,888.59 points.

European markets were ruling firm with the FTSE in Britain trading 68.92 points higher at 4,486.86 points, and its French peer CAC 40 ruling 65.12 points up at 3,342.77 points.

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