Sensex ends at new closing high; metal stocks zoom (Roundup)

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets rose 173.74 points or 0.70 percent Tuesday, striking a new closing high of 24,858.59 points. Metal, oil and gas and capital goods stocks gained the most.

The market, which was trading cautiously ahead of the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) bi-monthly monetary policy review, started falling soon after the apex bank left key interest rates unchanged. However, the bank's decision to cut the liquidity ratio requirement for banks helped correct the sentiment.

Sector-wise healthy buying was observed in consumer durables, realty and automobile sectors.

However, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) and healthcare stocks came under selling pressure.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 24,729.22 points, ended the day's trade at 24,858.59 points a new closing high, up 173.74 points or 0.70 percent from the previous day's close at 24,684.85 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 24,892.06 points and a low of 24,626.97 points in trade.

The S&P BSE metal index surged 633.58 points, oil and gas index gained 196.11 points, capital goods index increased by 193.18 points, consumer durables index rose 112.68 points, realty index was up 60.43 points, and automobile index was higher by 43.63 points.

However, FMCG dropped 50.83 points and healthcare index was lower by 50.82 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) too closed in positive territory. The Nifty closed trade 53.35 points or 0.72 percent up at 7,415.85 points.

Major Sensex gainers were: Tata Steel, up 6.69 percent at Rs.525.75; Sesa Sterlite, up 6.53 percent at Rs.297.90; Coal India, up 5.29 percent at Rs.393.10; ONGC, up 4.40 percent at Rs.416.80; and BHEL, up 3.48 percent at Rs.257.30.

Major Sensex losers were: Dr. Reddy's Lab, down 3.15 percent at Rs.2,338; Gail India, down 2.07 percent at Rs.381.40; Hindustan Unilever, down 1.51 percent at Rs.592; ITC, down 1.16 percent at Rs.333.45; and Wipro, down 0.95 percent at Rs.494.35.

Among the Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 0.66 percent up. While China's Shanghai Composite Index was lower by 0.04 percent, Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 0.91 percent up.

In Europe, London's FTSE 100 was trading 0.58 percent down and Germany's DAX Index was lower by 0.52 percent, while the French CAC 40 Index was down by 0.36 percent at the closing bell here.