BSE Sensex crosses 15,000 mark, 129 pts up

Mumbai, Jun 11: Benchmark sensitive index of BSE today crossed 15,000 mark at the opening session and quoted firm at 15,018.68 points with a massive gain of 129 points from its last close of 14,889.25 on fresh speculative demand from FIIs and domestic financial institutional investors.

The key Benchmark indices which had hit their lowest level in 2008 yesterday, 10 June, recovered in early trade today as investors resort to bargain buying after recent steep fall in share prices, taking cue from firm Asian markets. Falling crude prices further boosted sentiments. Realty and IT stocks gained. The market breadth was strong. At the present, the 30-share BSE Sensex was up by 285.02 points or 1.91 per cent at 15,018.68. At the day's high of 15,115.69, Sensex gained 226.44 points in early trade.

The broader-based S&P CNX Nifty was up 44.05 points or 0.99 per cent at 4,493.85.

The BSE Mid-Cap index rose 1.25 per cent to 6,180.64 and BSE Small-Cap index rose by 1.26 per cent to 7,433.92. Both these indices out performed Sensex.

Realty stocks rose. The BSE Realty index was the major gainer from sectoral indices on BSE. It was up by 2.28 per cent to 5,759.09.

Indiabulls Real Estate rose by 2.13 per cent to Rs 399.50, Unitech hiked by 2.01 per cent to Rs 182.85 and DLF hiked by 1.47 per cent to Rs 486.90.

IT stocks rose. Infosys was up by 1.89 per cent to Rs 1,884.10 followed by Wipro by 1.15 per cent to Rs 479, Tata Consultancy Services by 1.05 per cent to Rs 889.25 and Satyam Computer Services by 0.75 per cent to Rs 480.70 edged higher.

HDFC was up by 3.31 per cent to Rs 2,170.60, similarly Bharti Airtel gained by 3.04 per cent to Rs 802.40, Bharat Heavy Electricals by 3.1 per cent to Rs 1,424.90, Cipla by 2.56 per cent to Rs 216.30, Maruti Suzuki India was up by 2.35 per cent to Rs 758.90.

ITC was down 3.05 per cent to Rs 195.40, Hindustan Unilever by 1.71 per cent to Rs 230.15 and Reliance Communications declined by 0.73 per cent to Rs 546.80.

UNI