Banking IT stocks boost equity gauges Axis Bank up 63

Equity benchmark indices reversed early losses and closed half a per cent higher on Tuesday despite weak global cues. The BSE S&P Sensex closed 261 points or 0.54 per cent higher at 48,438 while the Nifty 50 gained by 67 points or 0.47 per cent to 14,200. Most sectoral indices at the National Stock Exchange were in the positive terrain with Nifty IT moving up by 2.7 per cent, private bank by 1.9 per cent and financial service by 1.2 per cent. But Nifty metal closed 1.3 per cent lower while realty was down by 0.2 per cent. Among stocks, Axis Bank jumped by 6.3 per cent to Rs 664.15 per share while IndusInd Bank surged by 2.6 per cent to Rs 921.35.Home loan lender HDFC gained by 2.9 per cent, HDFC Life by 2.7 per cent, Asian Paints by 1.6 per cent, Titan by 1.5 per cent and Nestle India by 1.1 per cent.