Sensex ends up by 257.98 points

Mumbai, Oct 25; The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) sensitive index today ended on a firm note, up by 257.98 points, to settle at 18,770.89 in a choppy market, marked by high volatility.

The benchmark Sensex today made a firm start at 18519.23 with a slight gain in a choppy market. It hit day's high of 18,900.10, gaining over more than 400 points from the intraday low of 18,459.51 during the day trade, dealers said.

Similarly, the broader based National Stock Exchange (NSE) Nify index closed 72.80 points up at 5568.95 as compared to its previous close of 5496.15. Nifty touched the intraday high of 5605.95 and a low of 5469.30 during the day trade.

European markets and Asian markets were on the greener side today and total cash market turnover on BSE was under Rs 8000 crore mark, dealers said.

According to dealers, world's sixth largest steel maker, Tata Steel reached its 52-week high of Rs 1003 in early trade.

It settled 7.93 pc higher to Rs 988 on 26.80 lakh shares and was the top gainer from the Sensex pack.

MARKETS-STOCKS-INTRO TWO LAST MUMBAI

Auto stocks gained on fresh buying. Maruti Suzuki India was up 1.90 pc to Rs 1140, followed by Bajaj Auto, up 0.76 pc to Rs 2499, Mahindra&Mahindra up 1.59 pc to Rs 772 and Tata Motors was up 1.08 pc to Rs 783, in late trading.

India's largest private sector entity by market capitalisation and oil refiner Reliance Industries (RIL) rebounded sharply from day's low of Rs 2594 to hit a high of Rs 2667.10. It settled 0.58 pc higher at Rs 2624.70 on 11.15 lakh shares.

Shares of top banks today closed with gains. ICICI Bank advanced 3.40 pc to Rs 1135 and State Bank of India gained 0.91pc to Rs 1925.30.

Among the losers from the Sensex pack, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, the nations third largest pharma company by market capitalisation, slipped 1.80 pc to Rs 618.60, gollowed by ACC down by 1.39 pc to Rs 1063.10 and ITC down 0.65 pc to Rs 183.50.

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