Sensex hits record high, crosses 24,000 points mark

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets continued its record run for the third consecutive day Tuesday when it reached a fresh high of over 24,000 points.

This surpassed its previous record of 23,573 points hit Monday as the exit polls showed the Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies closing in on a majority in just-ended country's general elections.

All the sectors were trading in green. The rally was led by capital goods, banking, oil and gas, metal, consumer durables, auto, IT and technology, media and entertainment (TECK) sectors.

The prominent gainers so far were: Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd, up 11.41 percent at Rs.221.10; ONGC, up 4.14 percent at Rs.373.25; Tata Power, up 3.92 percent at Rs.84.80 and Reliance Industries Ltd, up 1.31 percent at Rs.1,042.40.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 23,729.78 points, was trading at 24,007.61 points in the pre-noon session, up 456.61 points or 1.94 percent from the previous day's close at 23,551 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 24,068.94 points and a low of 23,729.25 points in trade.

The S&P BSE capital goods surged by 510.84 points, bankex went up by 269.23 points, oil and gas index gained 264.71 points, metal index increased by 260.02 points, consumer durables index mopped up 276.54 points, auto index moved up by 269.93 points, IT index got augmented by 206.67 points and TECK index inched up by 105.62 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) surged by 137 points or 1.95 percent and was trading at 7,151.25 points.