Sensex hits all-time high of 26,674.38 in morning trade on inflow of foreign funds

The S&P BSE Sensex continued to rule for the sixth consecutive day and hit an all-time high of 26,674.38 in morning trade today on persistent buying in capital goods, auto, banking and refinery sectors on the back of sustained foreign capital inflows.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 290.18 crore yesterday, as per provisional data from the stock exchanges. The 30-share index resumed higher at 26,620.18 and firmed up further to an all-time high of 26,674.38 before quoting 26,662.17 points at 1000 hours.

It showed a gain of 102.02 points, or 0.38 per cent, from its last close. The CNX 50-share barometer Nifty also firmed up by 26.65 points, or 0.34 per cent, to 7,962.70 at 1000 hours. Major gainers were Gail (1.44 pct), ICICI Bank (1.29 pct), Tata Motors (1.26 pct), Larsen (1.16 pct), BHEL (1.09 pct), SSLT (0.99 pct) and Wipro (0.99 pct)

. Asian markets were trading mixed in their early trade as indices in Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea moved up by 0.08 to 0.41 per cent, while those in China, Japan and Taiwan declined by 0.12 to 0.37 per cent.