Sensex hits new peak, nears 12,000 mark

New Delhi: The markets ended with a smart rally amid volatile trade. The Sensex and Nifty once again closed at all-time high.

The Sensex gained 74.41 points. Metal, oil, capital goods and pharma stocks ended higher. However, technology and auto stocks lost ground.

The Sensex closed at 11,895.98, up 74.41 points or 0.63 per cent. It hit an all-time high of 11,986.09.

The Nifty closed higher at 3535.85, up 17.75 points or 0.50 per cent. It touched a life high of 3570.50.

The CNX Midcap ended up 8.15 points or 0.17 per cent at 4918.90. It touched an intraday high of 4953.40 and an intraday low of 4894.50.

The BSE Small Cap Index closed up 20.41 points or 0.29 per cent at 6,941.74. The BSE Midcap Index ended up 27.29 points or 0.49 per cent at 5,571.03.

The market turnover was negative, about 1161 shares advanced, 1313 shares declined, and 70 shares remained unchanged.

The total market turnover was recorded at Rs 59081.17 crore. The NSE cash turnover was at Rs 10,200.41 crore. The BSE cash turnover was at Rs 5276.61 crore.

The NSE F&O turnover was at Rs 43604.15 crore. The Nifty Futures ended at a premium of 12 points. It added 5 lakh shares in Open Interest. Essar Oil, Hindalco, Gujarat Ambuja, NTPC and Reliance were the top trades for the day.

Biggest gainers on the indices were ACC, Tata Steel, Reliance, Ranbaxy Labs, Grasim, Sun Pharma and Nalco.

However, Bajaj Auto, Wipro, Infosys, Cipla, Tata Power, HCL Tech, BPCL, Zee Tele, Gail and VSNL were the top losers on the indices.

The BSE Oil & Gas Index outperformed the other indices. It closed at 5,367.05, up 122.71 points or 2.34 per cent amid gains in MRPL, Reliance, Chennai Petro and ONGC.

Metal stocks like Sesa Goa, Nalco, Welspun Guj, Tata Steel, Hindalco, Sterlite Ind and Sail also ended on firm footing. The BSE Metal Index closed at 10,014.13, up 217.11 points or 2.22 per cent.

Consumer durables stocks including Whirlpool and Samtel Color also moved up. The BSE Consumer Durables Index ended up 1.51 per cent at 3,363.92.

The BSE Capital Goods Index closed at 8,611.86, up 0.60 per cent as buying is seen in Carborundum, SKF India, Greaves Cotton, BHEL and Crompton Greaves.

Pharma stocks like Sun Pharma, Ranbaxy Labs, FDC, Ipca Labs, Novartis India and Cadila Health also stirred up. The BSE Healthcare Index closed up 0.40 per cent at 3,953.32.

Some gains were also seen in banking stocks.

However, technology stocks like HCL Tech, HCL Info, Patni Computer, Wipro, Infosys, i-flex Solutions and Satyam witnessed selling pressure in late trade. The BSE IT Index opened in the green but closed in the red at 4,222.66, down 1.45 per cent.

The BSE Auto Index ended up 0.99 per cent at 5,414.42. Auto stocks including Amtek Auto, Exide Industries, Bajaj Auto, Escorts, TVS Motor, Apollo Tyres, Cummins and MRF also slipped.

Some FMCG stocks finished lower.