<div>Equities jumped for a second day as the market benchmark Sensex climbed by 267.35 points to a one-week high of 23,649.22 on across-the-board buying led by IT and healthcare stocks, in line with a firming global trend.<br /><br />Sentiment remained firm as buying picked up momentum after other Asian markets rose following a strong Wall Street closing on a surge in crude oil prices, which provided much- needed confidence as key producer Iran agreed to an output freeze by Saudi Arabia and Russia.<br /><br />Brent crude oil prices tested USD 35 a barrel in European trade today.<br />The 30-share Sensex after shuttling between 23,735.35 and 23,448.21, finally settled 267.35 points or 1.14 per cent up at 23,649.22. The gauge had gained 189.90 points yesterday.<br /><br />The 50-share NSE Nifty after testing the crucial 7,200- mark, advanced to touch a high of 7,215.10, before settling 83.30 points or 1.17 per cent higher at 7,191.75.<br /><br />Dr Reddy's Laboratories emerged as the star performer and closed up by 4.52 per cent at Rs 3,094.95 after its board approved a share buyback around 44.85 lakh shares for Rs 1,569.4 crore.<br /><br />Gains in Hero MotoCorp, ICICI Bank, Lupin, Wipro, Infosys, L&T, Bajaj Auto, ITC, HUL, Sun Pharma, TCS, HDFC Bank, Coal India, Tata Motors, Cipla and M&M, too supported the upside.<br /><br />Among the 30-Sensex constituents, 20 stocks ended with gains while 10 led by Maruti Suzuki, Asian Paints, BHEL, Axis Bank, RIL, Adani Ports, HDFC, Tata Steel, GAIL and NTPC fell.<br /><br />Sector-wise, BSE IT index gained most by rising 1.94 per cent, followed by teck (1.90 pc), healthcare (1.78 pc), capital goods (1.59 pc), FMCG (1.52 pc), oil&gas (1.22 pc), metal (1.12 pc) and bankex (1.10 pc).<br /><br />The broader markets too continued to trend firm as retail investors boosted its positions with the BSE mid-cap index rising 0.63 per cent and small-cap gaining 0.59 per cent.<br /><br />Globally, Asian markets, including in Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore ended higher, while Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.16 per cent. European markets were mixed in their early deals. <br /></div>
<div>Equities jumped for a second day as the market benchmark Sensex climbed by 267.35 points to a one-week high of 23,649.22 on across-the-board buying led by IT and healthcare stocks, in line with a firming global trend.<br /><br />Sentiment remained firm as buying picked up momentum after other Asian markets rose following a strong Wall Street closing on a surge in crude oil prices, which provided much- needed confidence as key producer Iran agreed to an output freeze by Saudi Arabia and Russia.<br /><br />Brent crude oil prices tested USD 35 a barrel in European trade today.<br />The 30-share Sensex after shuttling between 23,735.35 and 23,448.21, finally settled 267.35 points or 1.14 per cent up at 23,649.22. The gauge had gained 189.90 points yesterday.<br /><br />The 50-share NSE Nifty after testing the crucial 7,200- mark, advanced to touch a high of 7,215.10, before settling 83.30 points or 1.17 per cent higher at 7,191.75.<br /><br />Dr Reddy's Laboratories emerged as the star performer and closed up by 4.52 per cent at Rs 3,094.95 after its board approved a share buyback around 44.85 lakh shares for Rs 1,569.4 crore.<br /><br />Gains in Hero MotoCorp, ICICI Bank, Lupin, Wipro, Infosys, L&T, Bajaj Auto, ITC, HUL, Sun Pharma, TCS, HDFC Bank, Coal India, Tata Motors, Cipla and M&M, too supported the upside.<br /><br />Among the 30-Sensex constituents, 20 stocks ended with gains while 10 led by Maruti Suzuki, Asian Paints, BHEL, Axis Bank, RIL, Adani Ports, HDFC, Tata Steel, GAIL and NTPC fell.<br /><br />Sector-wise, BSE IT index gained most by rising 1.94 per cent, followed by teck (1.90 pc), healthcare (1.78 pc), capital goods (1.59 pc), FMCG (1.52 pc), oil&gas (1.22 pc), metal (1.12 pc) and bankex (1.10 pc).<br /><br />The broader markets too continued to trend firm as retail investors boosted its positions with the BSE mid-cap index rising 0.63 per cent and small-cap gaining 0.59 per cent.<br /><br />Globally, Asian markets, including in Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore ended higher, while Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.16 per cent. European markets were mixed in their early deals. <br /></div>