Sensex hits new high of 25,711 points; ends flat

A benchmark index of Indian stock markets hit a record 25,711.11 points in the intra-day Tuesday. However, the index pared its gains on profit-taking and ended a mere 3.48 points higher at 25,583.69 points, which is also a record closing high.

The 30-scrip S&P Sensex (sensitive index) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) opened sharply higher at 25,706.35 points and touched a record high of 25,711.11 points in the early trade. The previous record high of the benchmark index was 25,644.77 points recorded Monday.

The index ended the day at 25,583.69 points, 0.01 percent or 3.48 points higher than its previous day close at 25,580.21 points. The index slipped to a low of 25,347.33 points in the intra-day.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also rose to a record high of 7,683.20 points in the intra-day. The Nifty ended the day 1.80 points higher at 7,656.40 points. This is also a record closing high.

There was good buying support in consumer durables, technology, IT and healthcare stocks, while profit-booking was seen in realty, power, capital goods and oil and gas scrips.

The BSE consumer durables index gained 3.55 percent. IT index was up 2.32 percent and healthcare index rose 1.97 percent.

While realty index slumped 2.96 percent. Oil and gas index fell 0.96 percent; metal index dropped 0.85 percent and capital goods index declined 0.90 percent.

Cipla, 2.76 percent higher at Rs.407.35; Infosys, up 2.73 percent at Rs.3,067.20; Wipro, up 2.73 percent at Rs.524.80; TCS, up 1.98 percent at Rs.2157.10; and Coal India, up 1.78 percent at Rs.420.25 were among the prominent Sensex gainers.

Sixteen of the 30 Sensex scrips ended in the red. Major losers included: BHEL, down 2.87 percent at Rs.255.60; ONGC, down 2.74 percent at Rs.440.90; Tata Steel, down 2.60 percent at Rs.558.80; Hero MotoCorp, down 2.32 percent at Rs.2662.60; and SSLT, down 2.29 percent at Rs.300.50.