Sensex ends 115 points higher on positive global cues (Roundup)

Snapping the three-day losing streak a benchmark index for Indian equities, the sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange, on Thursday closed 115.11 points or 0.48 percent up on positive global cues.

The 30-share Sensex, which opened at 24,386.45 points, closed at 24,338.43 points -- up 115.11 points, or 0.48 percent, over the previous trading day's close at 24,223.32 points. It touched a high of 24,514.01 points and a low of 24,224.74 points in Thursday's trade.

The wider Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also closed 42.20 points or 0.57 percent higher at 7,404 points.

"We today experienced high volatile movements but finally Nifty managed to close above 7,400. Positive global cues supported the market," Alex Mathews, head - research, Geojit BNP Paribas, said.

"Indices managed to shut in the extreme volatile trading session on a positive note. Bounce in crude oil prices, appreciation in rupee against the US Dollar and positive global equities led the su"port," Gaurav Jain, director, Hem Securities, said.

In Thursday's trade, good buying was observed in metal, capital goods, industrials and basic materials, while heavy selling pressure was seen in healthcare and realty sectors.

Among the sector-specific indices of the Mumbai bourse, metal index gained by 2.48 percent, capital goods index moved up by 1.93 percent, industrials index got augmented by 1.12 percent and basic materials index inched up by 1.11 percent.

However, healthcare index dropped by 1.56 percent and realty index slipped by 0.30 percent.

The 100-scrip and 200-scrip indices were higher by 0.51 percent and 0.41 percent respectively. Mid-cap index was down by 0.18 percent and small-cap stocks ended 0.75 percent lower.

The Sensex gainers on Thursday were: ONGC, up 3.28 percent at Rs.220.10; Asian Paints, up 2.93 percent at Rs.888.70; Larsen & Toubro, up 2.58 percent at Rs.1,136.05; and Adani Ports, up 2.24 percent at Rs.214.60.

The losers were: Lupin, down 2.80 percent at Rs.1,652.10; NTPC, down 2.14 percent at Rs.126; Cipla, down 1.98 percent at Rs.550.25; and State Bank of India, down 1.81 percent at Rs.163.05.

Among the Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei went down by 0.85 percent, while China's Shanghai Composite Index was higher by 1.55 percent, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng was up by 1.01 percent.

In Europe, London's FTSE 100 was up by 1.17 percent, France's CAC 40 was up by 0.31 percent, and Germany's DAX Index was higher by 0.42 percent at the closing in the Indian markets.