Sensex, Nifty touch all time high; banking stocks roll

Positive European cues ahead of a possible European Central Bank (ECB) stimulus and bullish investor sentiment on hopes of further reforms in the upcoming budget, propelled the Indian equities market to touch all time highs in Tuesday's intra-day trade.

The barometer index of the Indian equities market closed the day's trade up 522.66 points or 1.85 percent at 28,784.67 points. The S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) touched a new record high of 28,829.29 points during the intra-day trade.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 28,324.85 points, closed at 28,784.67 points, up 522.66 points or 1.85 percent from the previous day's close at 28,262.01 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 28,829.29 points and a low of 28,324.85 points in the trade so far.

Healthy buying was observed in banking, metal, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), automobile and oil and gas sectors. However, consumer goods and power index came under marginal selling pressure.

The S&P BSE banking index was up 409.99 points, metal index was higher by 305.94 points, FMCG index rose 137.08 points, automobile index gained 136.84 points and poil and gas index increased by 130.68 points.

The S&P BSE consumer durables index was down 6.88 points and power index was lower by 0.36 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) too reached a new record high of 8,707.90 points in the intra-day trade. It closed the day's trade up 1.69 percent or 144.90 points at 8,695.60 points.