Sensex, Nifty at new highs, capital goods gain (Roundup)

Mumbai, July 2 (IANS) A benchmark index of Indian equities markets hit a record high of 25,864.53 points Wednesday before closing at a new high of 25,841.21 points on the hopes of a fiscally prudent and growth oriented budget.

All key sectors ended the day's trade in the green. Capital goods, metal, automobile, healthcare, bank and oil and gas stocks rallied.

The new government will present its maiden budget July 10. Markets were upbeat after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley warned against "mindless populism". This raised hopes that the new government would take measures to contain high fiscal deficit and inflation.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 25,660.57 points, ended the trade at 25,841.21 points, up 324.86 points or 1.27 percent from the previous day's close at 25,516.35 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 25,864.53 points and a low of 25,660.16 points in trade. The 30-sensitive index had touched a new high of 25,735.87 points on June 11.

The S&P BSE capital goods index surged by 274.45 points, the metal index gained by 268.48 points, automobile went up by 223.38 points, healthcare index moved up by 214.49 points, bank index inched up by 185.12 points and oil and gas index was higher by 108.20 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) too touched a new high. It surged to 7,732.40 points and closed at 7,725.15 points, up 90.45 points or 1.18 percent.

The major Sensex gainers were: Sesa Sterlite, up 4.44 percent at Rs.309.40; NTPC, up 3.00 percent at Rs.159.45; BHEL, up 2.75 percent at Rs.259.50; HDFC, up 2.71 percent at Rs.1,008.30; and Maruti Suzuki, up 2.25 percent at Rs.2,642.95.

The losers were: Gail India, down 0.28 percent at Rs.458.35 and Infosys, 0.10 percent at RS.3,218.50.

Among the Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 0.29 percent up, China's Shanghai Composite Index ended 0.44 percent higher and Hong Kong's Heng Seng closed 1.55 percent higher.

In Europe, London's FTSE 100 was trading 0.29 percent up, and French CAC 40 Index lost 0.06 percent. However, Germany's DAX Index was trading 0.16 percent higher at the closing bell here.