Sensex surges 467 points; capital goods stocks zoom (Roundup)

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets Monday closed 467.51 points or 1.93 percent up on positive global cues and heavy buying in interest-sensitive stocks ahead of the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) bi-monthly monetary policy review.

Healthy buying was observed in capital goods, bank, oil and gas, automobile and metal sectors.

However, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) and healthcare stocks came under sustained selling pressure.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 24,368.96 points, closed trade at 24,684.85 points - up 467.51 points or 1.93 percent from the previous day's close at 24,217.34 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 24,709.09 points and a low of 24,270.20 points intra-day.

"Sensex rallied as the global cues were positive for the day. Asian equity markets rose following record highs for the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average last week," Sanjeev Zarbade, vice president- private client group research, Kotak Securities.

"Data released showed China's factory activity also expanded at its fastest pace in five months in May."

The S&P BSE capital goods index gained 725.67 points, bank index was up 556.58 points, oil and gas index increased by 309.30 points, metal index surged 229.03 points, automobile index was higher by 207.09 points and consumer durables index rose by 128.48 points.

However, healthcare dropped by 94.56 points and FMCG index was lower by 56.07 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) too closed in positive territory. The Nifty closed trade 132.55 points or 1.83 percent up at 7,362.50 points.

Major Sensex gainers were: Larsen and Toubro (L&T), up 6.23 percent at Rs.1,645.40; ONGC, up 5.55 percent at Rs.399.25; Bharti Airtel, up 5.03 percent at Rs.361.30; State Bank of India (SBI), up 4.02 percent at Rs.2,644.20; and Tata Steel, up 3.75 percent at Rs.492.80.

Major Sensex losers were: Dr.Reddys Lab, down 1.39 percent at Rs.2,414; Sun Pharma, down 1.34 percent at Rs.599.25; ITC, down 1.22 percent at Rs.337.35; Wipro, down 1.17 percent at Rs.499.10; and Tata Consultancy Service (TCS), down 0.67 percent at Rs.2,129.90.

Among the Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 2.07 percent up.

In Europe, London's FTSE 100 was trading 0.31 percent up and Germany's DAX Index was higher by 0.23 percent, while the French CAC 40 Index was down by 0.02 percent at the closing bell here.