Sensex back in green; healthcare stocks rise

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets Friday made gains after two days of losses, as healthcare and information technology (IT) stocks rose.

There was healthy buying in healthcare, IT and technology, entertainment and media (TECK) sectors, while selling pressure was observed in metal, automobile and banking scrip.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 25,132.08 points, ended trade at 25,099.92 points (provisional), up 37.25 points or 0.15 percent from the previous day's close at 25,062.67 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 25,209.61 points and a low of 25,032.94 points intra-day.

The S&P BSE healthcare index surged by 272.33 points, followed by IT index which gained by 221.59 points and TECK index which rose 91.28 points. But the metal index dropped by 170.01 points, while automobile index was down 82.08 points and bankex slid by 79.98 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE)also closed in positive territory. It gained 15.60 points or 0.21 percent at 7,508.80 points.