Sensex gains 136 points; breaches 18,000-level after 30 months

The BSE Sensex today surged 136 points to breach the psychological 18,000 points level for the first time in two-and-a-half years on the back of good first quarter numbers and easing food inflation, amid positive European cues.

A sharp rally in the final hours of trade helped the 30-share barometer of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) extend gains for the second successive day. The Sensex closed higher by 135.9 points, or 0.76%, at 18,113.15, its best closing since February 15, 2008.

The wide-based 50-share Nifty index of the National Stock Exchange, too, added 0.79% to settle at 5,441.95 points, the highest level in 30 months.

Analysts said the Sensex, which was in the negative zone till mid-session, reversed the trend in the final hours of trade as better-than-expected European economic data ignited buying here, pushing the index to a high of 18,127.90, up 150 points.

The sentiment on Dalal Street was weak in early trade following a steep overnight fall in US markets. However, it turned bullish after the positive opening of European bourses and the firm start of US futures, market experts said.

Investors also responded positively to news that food inflation declined to 12.47% for the week ended July 10 from 12.81% in the previous week, they said.

The rally was led by consumer goods, metal, auto, FMCG and financial stocks. Barring IT, all the other 12 sectoral indices on the BSE ended with gains.

"How long people will wait for sideline trading. Good Q1 numbers have boosted the sentiment and today positive European data also helped the market to break the range-bound trade," Geojit BNP Paribas Research head Alex Mathews said.

"I am hopeful that the market will sustain this level and, in fact, will rise further in coming sessions," he added.

M&M was the best gainer in the Sensex pack and ended 2.50% higher. Other auto stocks were also in demand, with Tata Motors rising 1.78% and Hero Honda 0.24%.

ITC, which today reported a 21.8% jump in June quarter profit, rose by 1.64%, while Bharti Airtel gained 2.39% and Jaiprakash Associates 1.95%.

Metal stocks rose for the second straight day, with Tata Steel surging 1.94%, Sterlite Industries 1.5%, Jindal Steel 1.49% and Hindalco 0.90%.

JSW Steel shot up 2.26%, after the company said it will consider raising funds.

"Our domestic fundamentals are strong and I hope markets will sustain the gains in the near-term," Aneesh Srivastava, the chief investment officer of IDBI Fortis Life Insurance Co, said.

In 30-BSE index components, 25 stocks ended with gains, while five ended in the red. Financial stocks also attracted handsome buying, with SBI rising 1.65%, HDFC 1.56%, HDFC Bank 1.10% and ICICI Bank 0.68%.

Reliance Industries, which carries the maximum weight in the Sensex, ended 0.06% higher at Rs1,058.90.

However, IT bellwether Infosys did not participate in the rally and ended 0.28% down.     

Among the other losers, ACC sank 1.06%, the most in the BSE-30, followed by R-Infra, which fell 0.79%, and Maruti 0.74%.

On the global front, Europe was trading firm at mid-session. In Asia, China's Shanghai index closed 1.07% up, while Japan's Nikkei fell 0.62%.