Sensex gains over 500 pts on good global cues

Mumbai, Dec 24: The sensitive index at Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) climbed up over 500 points to touch near 19,700 in an hour after opening on strong global cues.

The benchmark Sensex today resumed with a positive gap of 145.73 points at 19,308.20 from its previous close 19,162.57 and moved up at fast pace to touch near 19,700 on firm note in global markets. Similarly, National Stock Exchange's index Nifty was at a positive gap of 150 points at 5907.87 in the early trade. IT stocks soared. Realty, power and oil&gas stocks were in demand. The market breadth was strong. All 30 stockS from the Sensex pack were in green. Asian markets, were firm.

The BSE Mid-Cap index was up 1.80pc to 9,187.93. The BSE Small-Cap index was up 1.86pc to 12,033.20. The market breadth was strong. On BSE, 1533 shares advanced as compared to 156 that declined. Sixteen shares were unchanged.

Frontliners, Reliance Industries rose 1.44pc to Rs 2753.80, ICICI Bank rose 2.85pc to Rs 1190, ONGC spurted 3.46pc to Rs 1232, Bharti Airtel gained 3pc to Rs 942 and Housing Development Finance Corporation rose 3.49pc to Rs 2820, led the positive rally in the market. IT stocks were also at good gains as Wipro soared 4.32pc to Rs 513, TCS jumped 4.09pc to Rs 1088 and Infosys Technologies rose 4.04pc to Rs 1777.

Most of the sectoral indices at BSE were in green, IT index was up 4pc to 4,491.86, the BSE Bankex was 2.41pc up to 10,996.97, the BSE Power index was up 2.20pc to 4,303.77 and BSE Oil&Gas index was up 2.17pc to 12,512.08.

UNI