Sensex gains 200 points backed by impressive results

Mumbai, Apr 18: The benchmark index of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) opened with a gain of 85 points at 11,624.97 as compared to the last close of 11,539.68 points.

Soon after opening, the 30 share Sensitive Index (Sensex) shot up 200 points to day's high of 11,739 on the back of all round buying.

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) S&P CNX Nifty index opened higher at 3,429 as compared to the last close of 3,425 points and the key index traded 73 points up at 3,498 points at 1144 hrs.

Among the sectoral indices, BSE Informnation Technology index was up by 2.30 per cent, BSE Technology index was up by 2.02 per cent and BSE Health Care index was up by 2.05 per cent, Oil&Gas index was up by 1.46 per cent.

The top gainers on the Sensex were led by Tata Consultancy Service (TCS), which was up by 6.40 per cent to Rs 2,025 after opening at Rs 2,000 for the first time, TCS touched a high of Rs 2,099.

Other IT counters were also gaining, Wipro was up 2.02 per cent, Infosys was up 1.94 per cent.

Other gainers were Cipla, ONGC, Dr Reddy's Lab., Larsen&Toubro, SBI, Bajaj Auto and HDFC Bank.

ONGC was up by 3.98 per cent to Rs 1,292.90 after it announced moderate profit of nine per cent on Sunday at Rs 14,175 crore in the last financial year (2005-06).

The three losers were Tata Steel, Tata Power and Gujarat Ambuja Cements.

UNI