Sensex ends 200 points up; capital goods zoom

Mumbai, May 19 (IANS) A benchmark index of Indian equities markets Monday closed around 200 points up on the back of hopes that the new Narendra Modi-led government would take steps to revive the economy.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) opened at 24,340.32 points and ended trade at 24,318.44 points (provisional), up 196.70 points or 0.82 percent from the previous day's close at 23,121.74 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 24,448.47 points and a low of 24,107.99 points intra-day.

Stellar gains were observed in capital goods, metal, oil and gas and bank stocks. While healthy buying took place in power and realty sectors.

However, information technology (IT), healthcare, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) and technology, entertainment and media (TECK) stocks came under sustained selling pressure.

The S&P BSE capital goods index rocketed 1,072.29 points, metal index zoomed 749.44 points, oil and gas index surged 546.15 points, and bank index was higher by 419.08 points.

Power index was up 203.16 points, followed by consumer durables index which edged higher by 159.24 points and realty index rose 113.57 points.

However, IT index fell 441.29 points, healthcare index declined by 389.80 points, FMCG index was lower by 255.59 points, and TECK index slipped by 175.91 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) closed flat at 7,263.55 points, up 60.55 points or 0.84 percent.