Sensex, Nifty50 break records to close at fresh highs

Key Indian equity indices on Monday scaled fresh highs -- both on closing as well as intra-day basis -- as healthy buying in consumer durables, automobile and oil and gas stocks, coupled with hopes of better quarterly results, kept investors' sentiments upbeat.

According to market observers, index heavyweights like Lupin, ONGC, Bharti Airtel, Tata Consultancy Services and Reliance Industries aided in the upward trajectory of the key indices.

The barometer 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE provisonally closed (at 3.30 p.m.) at a fresh high of 33,266.16 points -- up 108.94 points or 0.33 per cent, after touching a record high of 33,340.17 points intra-day.

The broader 50-scrip Nifty at the National Stock Exchange (NSE), which touched an intra-day record high of 10,384.50 points, closed at a new high of 10,363.65 points.

The BSE market breadth was bullish -- 1,687 advances and 1,025 declines.

On Friday, a massive bout of profit booking subdued the key indices to close on a flat note after touching record new intra-day highs.

The NSE Nifty50 slipped by 21 points or 0.20 per cent to close at 10,323.05 points, while the Sensex closed at 33,157.22 points, higher by 10.09 points or 0.03 per cent.

--IANS

ppg/rn