Sensex extends gain for third session; ends 72 points up

In volatile trading, the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) benchmark Sensex today surged for the third session in a row, rising almost 72 points to close at 18,273.80 on capital inflow by foreign funds as blue-chips, led by Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), were available at attractive values.

The Sensex, which gained nearly 740 points in the previous two sessions, gathered another 71.60 points to 18,273.80 supported by a strong comeback by most-weighed Reliance Industries stocks.

The gauge moved between 18,361.66 and 18,050.48 during the session, showing volatile movements in stocks.

In a similar fashion, the broad-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty shot up 25.00 points to 5,481.00 after crossing the psychological mark of 5,500 points to touch the session's high of 5,506.50 and a low of 5,408.35.

Brokers said that apart from sustained buying by foreign funds and retail investors, hectic short-covering in the recently beaten oil and gas, banking and auto sector stocks was also responsible for the ongoing rally on the market.

RIL, which had been trading in the negative zone for the past several sessions, bounced back on emergence of buying at prevailing levels and ended 2.90% to Rs941.75.

Tata Power, the largest power producer in the private sector, gained 2.14% to Rs1,267.90 on a flurry of buying, triggered by a three-fold increase in net profit for the third quarter ended December 31, 2010, while State Bank of India, country's biggest lender, surged 1.38% to Rs2,728.40.

Tata Motor shares ended 2.41% higher at Rs1,237.85 after its global sales increased 16% in January.

The oil and gas sector gained the most, up 1.85% at 9,497.05, followed by banking index that was up by 1.53% to 12,429.32. The PSU index gained 1.10% to 8,637.79, auto index by 0.71% to 8,875.58 and power index by 0.14% to 2,639.59 points.

However, capital goods sector index which had been rising in the past two sessions, fell by 1.75% to 13,068.59 as BHEL and Larsen and Toubro succumbed to profit-booking. The realty sector index also shed 1.33% to 2,112.90 and the IT sector Index closed lower by 0.40% to 6,245.08.