Sensex hits 3-1/2 month high; ends above 20,000

MUMBAI (Reuters) - The BSE Sensex rose on Friday to its highest close in nearly 3-1/2 months as ITC rose to a record on expectations foreign investors will continue to scoop up domestic blue chips, while Maruti Suzuki surged after the yen slid against the dollar.

ITC Ltd provisionally rose 2.8 percent, while Maruti Suzuki India Ltd ended 4.4 percent higher.

The BSE Sensex provisionally gained 0.67 percent, closing above 20,000 for the first time since January30, while the Nifty ended up 0.74 percent, after breaching the key 6,100 level earlier in the day. (Reporting by Abhishek Vishnoi; Editing by Anupama Dwivedi)