Sensex soars during final hour of trade

Mumbai, Apr 25 (UNI) The Sensex today settled in the green at 14, 217.77 on the Bombay Stock Exchange, gaining 81 points or 0.57 per cent, tracking strong quarterly results from a few top-notch companies and short-covering ahead of expiry of the April series derivatives contracts.

After opening at 14,141.70, it had touched a high of 14,238.29 and a low of 14,052.17 during intra-day trade.

Among the broader markets, the 50-stock Nifty Index also gained by 25.50 points or 0.62 per cent on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and settled in the green at 4,167.30 from it's previous close of 4,141.80 points.

''The BSE Sensex recorded maximum gains in the last hour of trading today. Index heavyweight, Reliance Industries has surged to an all time high of Rs 1605.15. The surge can be attributed to short-covering ahead of expiry of the April contracts. Profound interest for index pivotals from auto, pharma as well as select other blue-chips kept the Sensex going,'' market analysts observed.

The market-breadth, which indicates the overall health of the market, was strong indicating buying interest for smallcap and midcap stocks. On BSE 1,468 scrips advanced compared to 1,081 that declined. A total of 88 scrips remained unchanged. The total turnover on BSE amounted to a healthy Rs 5175 crore, boosted by two huge block deals of 12.50 lakh shares each, at an average Rs 1209 per share in early trade, at the TCS counter. The stock was down 0.15 per cent to Rs 1224, on total volumes of 27.27 lakh shares.

Undoubtedly, it was the top-traded counter on BSE with a turnover of Rs 330 crore.

Among the 30-Sensex pack, 19 advanced while the rest declined.

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