Sensex regains 18k level after one-month

Mumbai, Feb 14 (PTI) The BSE benchmark Sensex shot up byover 360 points to regain the 18,000-level at mid-sessiontoday as investors picked up fundamentally strong stocks thathad fallen to low levels in the past few weeks of volatiletrade, influenced by a firming Asian trend.

The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark index, which hadrecently fallen to a seven-month low, recovered by 361.03points to 18,089.64 at mid-session today, a level last seen onJanuary 14, with capital goods and auto sector stocks leadingthe rally.

Similarly, the broad-based National Stock Exchange Niftyindex shot up by 110.25 points to 5,420.25.

Brokers said the upsurge was supported by a steep rise instocks of Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki, BHEL, ICICI Bank, StateBank of India and Infosys.

They said a firming trend in the Asian region furtherfuelled the buying activity.