Sensex records biggest gain in two weeks, rises by 240 pts

Updated at 4:29 pm

MUMBAI: The benchmark Sensex recorded its biggest gain in two weeks, closing sharply higher by 240 points on revival of buying by funds in banking and telecom stocks.

Buying activity picked up as general investors felt a steep fall in share prices last month was overdone and the Sensex spurted by 239.94 points to 12,945.88, its biggest advance since March 8.

The Sensex had dropped nearly 15 per cent from its peak of 14,724 points on February 9.

The National Stock Exchange index Nifty also rose by 66.95 points at 3764.55.

The major contributors were banking shares led by index-heavy ICICI Bank and placed the banking segment index higher by 254.06 points at 6,545.33.

The second biggest gainers were from metals segment, which gained 115.41 points at 8,252.96 followed by capital goods index, which advanced by 98.71 points at 8,648.18.

The market also received a booster after telecom major Bharti Airtel shares surged following reports that the telecommunication regulator cut a fee on international calls as part of a plan to reduce tariffs.