Sensex ends at 9-month high; Realty gains 5%

The Sensex today opened with a positive gap of 120 points at 14,746 on strong global cues.

It touched a high of 14,907 in the morning session and then slipped to touch a low of 14,655 as investors booked profit. The markets exhibited volatility throughout the day and finally ended with a gains of 215 points or 1.5% at 14,841, highest closing since September 9, 2008.

The Nifty touched its 10-month high and finally ended 81 points higher at 4,530.

The Small-cap was up 3.5% at 6,199 and the Mid-cap advanced nearly 3% to 5,207.

The BSE Realty and the Metal indices led the rally with over 5% gain each at 4,032 and 11,449, respectively.

The market breadth was positive - out of 2,870 shares, 2,290 advanced, 541 declined and 39 were unchanged today.

THE INDEX MOVERS...

Tata Steel surged 8% at Rs 438 and Sterlite soared 7% to Rs 665.

ACC, NTPC and Jaiprakash Associates advanced over 6% each to Rs 833, Rs 229 and Rs 220, respectively.

Mahindra & Mahindra, HDFC and ITC added 5% each to Rs 710, Rs 2,298 and Rs 193, respectively.

Reliance Communications, Infosys, Wipro, Hindalco, Grasim, DLF and Reliance Infrastructures gained 2-5% each.

...AND THE LOSERS

ICICI Bank and BHEL dropped 2% each to Rs 723 and Rs 2,125, respectively.

Bharti Airtel and Ranbaxy slipped 1.5% each to Rs 806 and Rs 275, respectively.

OTHER PROMINENT GAINERS...

Voltas zoomed 20.5% to Rs 118. It was followed by Indian Hotels Company, Suzlone Energy, Unitech, EIH, Welspun-Gujarat Stahl Rohren, Rei Agro, Cairn India, Rolta India, Fortis Health, Tech Mahindra and Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers gained 10-16% each.

...AND THE LOSERS

Axis Bank tumbled 5% to Rs 742. Nagarjuna Constructions, Lupin, Bosch, Indian Oil, Cummins India, Max India, Religare Enterprises and Bharat Electronics slipped 2-4% each.

VOLUME & VALUE TOPPERS

Unitech topped the value chart with turnover of Rs 376.72 crore. It was followed by Suzlon Energy (Rs 358.45), Reliance Capital (Rs 260.18 crore), HDIL (Rs 241.98 crore) and Reliance Natural Resources (Rs 216.64 crore).

Unitech, too, led the volumes chart with trades of 42.63 million shares on the BSE. It was followed by Suzlon Energy (32.84 million), Satyam Computer (32 million), Reliance Natural Resources (25.21 million) and Cals Refineries (25.21 million).