Sensex closes at nearly 20 K, rupee ends at 63.84 vs USD

The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) Sensex zoomed 727 points, the biggest single-day gain in over four years, to end just below the 20,000-mark on Tuesday on heavy buying by investors amid strengthening rupee and solid trade data.

The Sensex had advanced over 1,000 points in the previous three trading sessions. The Nifty jumped 216 points, to 5,897.

Meanwhile, the rupee continued to rule firm for the fourth straight day today by surging 140 paise to 63.84 per dollar.

The rupee resumed higher at 64.40 against the last weekend's level of 65.24 per dollar at the Interbank Foreign Exchange Market and moved up further to 64.15 before quoting at 64.25 per dollar. It moved in a range of 64.15 per dollar and 64.45 per dollar during the morning deals.

Sentiment in the currency has improved since Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan unveiled a slew of proposals to support the rupee and open up markets on Wednesday, providing a breath of fresh air for investors unnerved by the country's worst economic crisis in two decades.