Nifty at over 8-week high, up 25 pts

The benchmark Nifty continued its uptrend in largely choppy session for the sixth day to end near one-and-a-half-month highs amid buying in Metal and Energy stocks, while gain 24.50 points to finish at 8,177.40 at the National Stock Exchange (NSE).
Earlier, despite firm Asian cues the volatile opening saw the market recouping the losses, triggered by recovery in global crude oil prices which surged three month highs.
The index also got support strengthening rupee and overnight IMF report that emerging economies India's growth will be the fastest. Though it again witnessed choppiness during afternoon on profit booking and went into negative terrain for a brief period, But sustained buying in Energy and Auto heavy weights and recently battered Metal, PSU Banks and Realty stocks helped the market to sustain the momentum to end green.

Buying was also witnessed in midcap and smallcap shares, while IT counters witnessed profit-booking.
The 50-share Nifty opened lower at 8,146.20 and traded between a high of 8,188.90 and low of 8,132.90 before closing at 8,177.40, showing a gain of 24.50, or 0.30 per cent over its previous close.
Elsewhere, Asian stocks ended higher, while European markets also trading higher on fading expectation of US rate hike.

Stockwise, major gainers were Hindalco, VEDL, Cairn ONGC, Tata Steel, DLF, Tata Motors, SBIN and SunPharma.
While, notable losers were HCL Tech, Axis Bank, Infy, and BhartiArt.
Turnover in the cash segment were dropped to Rs 17,551.56 crore against Rs 18,408.13 crore yesterday. A total of 11,742.94 lakh shares changed hands in 82,29,551 trades, while market capitalisation stood at Rs 97,62,634 crore.