Sensex ends at 6-wk high, Nifty reclaims 6,000

The benchmark BSE Sensex rose 1.4%, or 282.41 points, to end at 19,958.47, highest close since May 30

The BSE Sensex and the Nifty rose about 1.5 per cent on Friday, marking their highest close in 1-1/2 months, as Infosys surged after it defied some analysts' expectations by retaining its revenue growth forecast, which lifted other information technology services stocks.

Shares also rose for a third week, as the rupee recovered from a record low hit on Monday, helped by measures from policy makers targeting derivatives trading and by comments from US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke implying he was in no hurry to end accommodative monetary policy.

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) bought Rs 1,536 crore worth of index futures on Thursday, marking their biggest single-day purchase of these contracts since July 1, regulatory and exchange data shows.

Amid blue chip earnings like Reliance Industries and HDFC Bank next week, investors are also on watch for June consumer price inflation data and May industrial output due later in the day and wholesale price-based inflation data for June on Monday.

"With better-than-expected numbers, Infosys brought in positive surprise and set the market for a buoyant start," said Jayant Manglik, president retail distribution at Religare Securities.

The bulls are in control and are likely to extend the gaining streak to test 6,150 on the NSE index in the near future, Manglik added.

The benchmark BSE Sensex rose 1.4 per cent, or 282.41 points, to end at 19,958.47, highest close since May 30. The index climbed 2.37 per cent for the week, posting gains for a third week.

The broader Nifty rose 1.25 per cent, or 73.90 points, to end at 6,009, closing above the psychologically important 6,000 level, while gaining 2.4 per cent for the week.

Infosys shares surged 10.9 per cent, to mark their highest intra-day level in 23 months, after the company surprised some analysts and retained its revenue growth forecast for the full year.

Infosys, which marked its biggest daily gain in six months also pulled up rival stocks. Tata Consultancy Services gained 2.9 per cent and Wipro ended 3.2 per cent higher. Reliance Industries gained 2.3 per cent after Oil minister M Verappa Moily on Thursday said the decision to raise prices of locally produced gas would not be reviewed, allaying fears that New Delhi might consider a roll-back.

IDFC shares rose 3.3 per cent on covering of short position in July futures, dealers said. Development Credit Bank rose 4.9 per cent, ahead of its results on Monday.

Maruti Suzuki India fell 3.8 per cent, falling for a second day after Macquarie downgraded the stock to 'neutral' from 'outperform' and cut its target price to Rs 1,525 from Rs 1,850, citing continued weakness in passenger vehicle demand and discounts on models.