Sensex, Nifty at new highs, oil and gas stocks rise (Roundup)

Mumbai, July 4 (IANS) A benchmark index of Indian equities markets Friday touched a new record high of 25,981.51 points as oil and gas and bank stocks surged.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) ended the day at a new closing high of 25,962.06 points by gaining 138.31 points or 0.54 percent from its previous close at 25,823.75 points.

The Sensex had hit a record high of 25,864.53 points Wednesday on the hopes of a fiscally prudent and growth oriented budget expected on July 10.

Healthy buying was observed in healthcare, realty, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) and power sectors, while selling pressure was seen in metal, capital goods and consumer durables scrips.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 25,844.80 points, closed at 25,962.06 points, up 138.31 points or 0.54 percent from the previous day's close at 25,823.75 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 25,981.51 points and a low of 25,659.33 points in trade.

The S&P BSE oil and gas index gained 184.42 points, bank index increased by 129.29 points and healthcare index went up by 56.59 points.

Realty index was up 22.90 points, followed by FMCG index which gained 22.20 points and power index rose 20.95 points.

However, metal index dropped by 118.35 points, capital goods index was lower by 44.53 points and consumer durables index was down 33.15 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also touched a new record high at 7,758.00 points. It closed the day's trade 36.80 points or 0.48 percent up 7,751.60 points.

The major Sensex gainers were: Reliance Industries, up 2.47 percent at Rs.1,031.95; HDFC Bank, up 2.29 percent at Rs.856.35; DrReddys Lab, up 1.56 percent at Rs.2,678.55; Gail India, up 1.71 percent at Rs.464.00; and Infosys, up 0.88 percent at Rs.3,239.15.

The losers were: Sesa Sterlite, down 1.74 percent at Rs.305.15; Wipro, down 1.46 percent at Rs.547.50; Larsen and Toubro (L&T), down 0.58 percent at Rs.1,742.40; Coal India, down 0.57 percent at Rs.394.05; and Mahindra and Mahindra, 0.55 percent at RS.1,229.10.

Among the Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 0.14 percent down, China's Shanghai Composite Index ended 0.19 percent higher and Hong Kong's Heng Seng closed 0.08 percent down.

In Europe, London's FTSE 100 was trading 0.48 percent up, and French CAC 40 Index gained 0.69 percent. However, Germany's DAX Index was trading 0.35 percent higher at the closing bell here.