Bluechips Steer Ascent

The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed to a four and half month high on Friday on sustained buying interest in bluechip index heavyweight. But power and banking stocks slipped on profit-taking, after the recent rally.

Recording its third straight gain, the Sensex rose 16.84 points to 3,354.14, its best close since January 22. Meanwhile, the broader NSE S&P CNX Nifty edged up 4.90 points higher at 1,056.20. Declines outnumbered advances in brisk trades.

But broad market sentiment was cautious, traders said.