Sensex trades above 12,000-level

MUMBAI: The benchmark index of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) opened firm at 11,968 with a gap of 30 points and soon crossed 12,000 mark on Thursday.

The 30-share Sensitive Index (Sensex) was 110 points up at 12,048 at 1143 am. 

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) S&P CNX Nifty index was up by
39 points at 3,585 points.

Softer crude oil prices at $71.80 per barrel was encouraging for the markets. Earlier, the Sensex touched a high of 12,086 points this morning after opening.

Domestic markets were getting strong support from the higher closing of the US markets.

Among most active stocks this morning on the NSE was ONGC, in which Indian Oil Corporation on Thursday sold its 1.92 per cent stake at Rs 1,340 per share to several financial institutions like Life Insurance Corporation, HSBC, and others. ONGC scrip traded 2.23 per cent lower at Rs 1,354.50 per share. 

NTPC had a block deal too of 1.01 crore shares on the BSE at Rs 130 per share.

Top gainers on the NSE Nifty were Dabur, Zee Telefilms, Glaxo, BHEL, NALCO, Bharti Tele, Larsen & Toubro, TCS, and Sunpharma. Sterlite Industries was up by 6.07 per cent at Rs 2436.40. Index heavy weight Reliance Industries was up by 1.42 per cent at Rs 983.