Sensex gains 48 points; healthcare stocks surge

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets Friday gained 48 points or 0.19 percent in the early session as healthcare stocks surged.

Good buying was observed in healthcare, oil and gas and banking sectors, while selling pressure was seen in capital goods sector.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 25,844.80 points, was trading at 25,871.75 points (at 09.34 a.m.) in the early session, up 48 points or 0.19 percent from the previous day's close at 25,823.75 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 25,884.29 points and a low of 25,809.04 points in trade. The S&P BSE healthcare index gained 126.87 points, oil and gas increased by 63.88 points and auto index went up by 72.79 points. However, capital goods index dropped by 23.71 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was trading at 10.60 points or 0.14 percent up at 7,725.40 points.