Sensex surges 352 points; IT, banks jump

India's stock markets benchmark index Sensex surged 1.6 percent Thursday, snapping the losing streak of the past three days, on the back of strong buying support in IT and banking stocks.

The 30-scrip S&P Sensex (sensitive index) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened in the positive at 22,327.76 points, ended the day at 22,628.84 points, up 1.58 percent or 351.61 points from its previous day's close at 22,277.23 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 22,648.69 points and low of 22,312.19 points in the intra-day trade.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) jumped 1.56 percent or 104.10 points to 6,779.40 points.

There was strong buying support in banking, IT, realty, and auto stocks.

All the sectoral indices of the BSE closed in the positive. The BSE banking index rose 1.78 percent. Realty index jumped 2.79 percent. Auto index soared 2.25 percent and IT index advanced 1.21 percent.