Relief for battered benchmark indices: Four-week losing run snapped

The domestic stock markets snapped their four-week losing streak, managing to eke out a two per cent gain to cap a tumultuous seven days that saw share prices swing wildly.
 

Stability in commodity prices and a strong showing by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state polls improved investor sentiment, helping benchmark indices post four consecutive days of gains. The Sensex ended at 55,550 on Friday, while the Nifty closed at 16,630 — a minor change over the previous day’s close, but up over 2.2 per cent for the week.
 

The Sensex swung nearly 4,000 points, or 7.6