Provisional: Sensex zooms 557 points, Nifty ends above 7,000

Markets ended at record highs on hopes that the exit polls would show that the BJP winning majority in the general elections

India's benchmark share indices got off to a flying start hitting record highs on anticipation that the exit polls slated for release later today would signal that business-friendly Bharatiya Janata Party winning majority in the general elections.

The 30-share Sensex ended up 557 points at 23,551 after hitting an intra-day high of 23,572.88 and the 50-share Nifty ended up 155 points at 7,014 after touching an intra-day high of 7,019.80.