Sensex crosses 26,000-mark; IT, TECK stocks surge

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets Monday hit a record high of 26,123.55 points as IT and technolgy, media and entertainment (TECK) stocks surged. The index closed 138.02 points or 0.53 percent higher.

Healthy buying was observed in IT, TECK, auto and healthcare sectors, while selling pressure was seen in banking and oil and gas sectors.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 26,039.67 points, closed at 26,100.08 points (provisional), up 138.02 points or 0.53 percent from the previous day's close at 25,962.06 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 26,123.55 points and a low of 25,992.73 points in trade.

The S&P BSE IT index gained by 244.59 points, TECK index surged by 113.70 points, auto index increased by 110.33 points and healthcare index inched up by 94.76 points. However, bankex plunged by 215.73 points and oil and gas index dropped by 102.17 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) closed the day's trade 35.55 points or 0.46 percent up 7,787.15 points.

--Indo-Asian News Service

ag/srj/vt