Sensex closes 80 points up; bank and IT stocks gain

Mumbai, July 18 (IANS) A benchmark index of Indian equities markets Friday rose 80.40 points or 0.31 percent as bank, information technology stocks gained.

Healthy buying was also observed in capital goods sectors, while selling pressure was seen in oil and gas, consumer durables and metal stocks.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 25,558.48 points, ended trade at 25,641.56 points (provisional), up 80.40 points or 0.31 percent from the previous day's close at 25,561.16 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 25,713.40 points and a low of 25,441.24 points in the trade so far.

The S&P BSE bank index surged by 134.21 points, while IT index gained by 132.47 points, and capital goods index rose 67.22 points. However, oil and gas index fell 83.63 points, consumer durables index went down by 75.46 points and metal index slipped by 70.62 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) closed trade 23.45 points or 0.31 percent up at 7,663.90 points.