Sensex, Nifty touch new highs, banking stocks surge

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets Monday touched a record high of 27,354.99 points surpassing its previous high of 27,225.85 points touched Sep 3.

Good buying was observed in banking, oil and gas, capital goods, auto, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), healthcare, IT and metal sectors, while marginal selling pressure was seen in consumer durables sector.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 27,145.12 points, closed trade at 27,319.85 points (provisional), up 293.15 points or 1.08 percent from the previous day's close at 27,026.70 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 27,354.99 points and a low of 27,144.56 points in the intra-day trade.

The S&P BSE bankex surged by 252.29 points, oil and gas index got augmented by 205.04 points, capital goods index gained by 198.88 points, auto index inched up by 138.39 points, FMCG index increased by 102.94 points, healthcare index moved up by 134.84 points, IT index went up by 126.53 points and metal index was up by 156.57 points.

However, consumer durables index slipped by 20.99 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also touched a record high of 8,180.20 points before closing trade at a new closing high of 8,173.90 points. Monday's close was 87.05 points or 1.08 percent up from the previous day's closing and a new record against the previous high of 8,141.90 points recorded Sep 3.