JOIN USThe 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 19,746.75 points, closed at 19,799.19 points - up 107.41 points or 0.55 percent from its previous close at 19,691.78 points.
At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the 50-share S&P CNX Nifty shut shop at 5,944.1 points - up 0.62 percent. Broader markets saw better gains, with the BSE midcap index ending 1.52 percent up and the BSE smallcap index closing 1.62 percent higher.
Consumer durables, metal and PSU stocks were in the green while auto scrips saw profit booking. Among the gainers on the Sensex were Sterlite Industries, up 3.46 percent at Rs.170.65; Reliance Infra, up 2.67 percent at Rs.833.10; Tata Steel, up 2.33 percent at Rs.645.50 and Tata Motors, up 2.19 percent at Rs.1,303.80.
Among five losers were Hero Honda, down 3.3 percent at Rs.1,713.85; Jindal Steel, down 1.41 percent at Rs.687.55; M&M, down 1.34 percent at Rs.757.60 and Hindustan Unilever, down 0.77 percent at Rs.297.90.
The market breadth was positive, with 1,931 stocks advancing, compared to 939 scrips on the decline, while 121 stocks remained unchanged. It was a quiet day at other Asian markets with investors waiting on the sidelines a day after a rally prompted by the Chinese central bank's decision to hold on to interest rates.
According to data available with SEBI, foreign institutional investors sold scrips worth $52.5 million Tuesday. However, the Japanese Nikkei closed 0.22 percent up to close at 10,316.77 points, while the Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 0.49 percent higher at 23,431.19 points.
The Shanghai Composite Index closed flat at 2,927.08 points. European markets were trading in a tight range Tuesday as traders took a breather after six consecutive days of gains. Around mid-day, Britain's FTSE 100 was ruling flat at 5,861.49 points, while the German DAX was trading 0.08 percent higher at 7,023.7 points. The French CAC 40 was ruling 0.01 percent up at 3,891.91 points.