Sensex gains 145 points on stable oil prices and firm global cues

The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark index Sensex, which climbed 367 points in the previous two sessions, advanced further by 144.58 points to end the day at 18,350.74.
The broad-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty also rose 42.15 points to close at 5,522.40. It touched the day's high of 5,529, led by Infosys Technologies, BHEL, Larsen and Tourbo, Tata Motors and Hero Honda.

Trading sentiment firmed, led by realty, auto and capital goods. Oil eased a bit to USD 105.50 in the US, as high crude inventories crossed out the threat of supplies from the conflict-torn Middle East, especially Libya.

Investors shrugged off the rise in food inflation, which crept back to double-digit at 10.05 per cent for the week ended March 12, from 9.42 per cent in the previous week.

The rally was driven by realty sector index, with a surge of 2.83 per cent at 2,178.70 as Unitech shot up by 9.61 per cent to Rs 40.50 on JPMorgan upgrading the stock.
The auto sector index was second best performer by rising 1.40 per cent to 8,717.68 as Tata Motors added 1.65 per cent to Rs 1,155.55, its highest closing since March 16.
Mahindra and Mahindra, the sport-utility vehicle and tractor maker, advanced 2.88 per cent to Rs 664.35 after the company revealed plans to set up a plant in Andhra Pradesh.
The capital goods sector index rose by 1.27 per cent to 12,735.02 after Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd, the top power equipment maker, reached a two- week high by rising 2.82 per cent to Rs 2,050.60.

As the buying activity spilled over a wide-front, the midcap index rose by 0.78 per cent to 6,655.30 and smallcap index by 0.67 per cent to 7,920.84.