Sensex gains 137 points; banking stocks surge

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets Monday was trading 137.26 points or 0.54 percent up as banking stocks surged.

Good buying was observed in banking, oil and gas and onsumer durables sectors, whil selling pressure was seen in metal sector.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 25,776.54 points, was trading at 25,778.82 points (at 01.17 p.m.) in the afternoon session, up 137.26 points or 0.54 percent from the previous day's close at 25,641.56 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 25,861.15 points and a low of 25,715.78 points in the trade so far.

The S&P BSE bankex gained 129.07 points, oil and gas index moved up by 115.17 points and consumer durables index inched up by 70.80 points. However, metal index dipped by 35.62 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also trading 33.10 points or 0.43 percent up at 7,697 points.