Sensex up 102 points in firm market

MUMBAI: The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex on Monday registered gains for the fifth straight session, rising over 102 points as realty and capital goods stocks led the rally on continued buying by funds, amid firm trend in the Asian region.

Sensex, which had gained over 741 points in last four sessions, rose another 102.35 points, 0.58 per cent, to 17,707.31 after touching the day's high of 17,829.72 - a level last seen on October 28, last year.

Similarly, the National Stock Exchange index, Nifty rose 35.80 points, or 0.67 per cent to 5,361.65 after shuttling between 5,390.05 and 5,327.25.

Among the realty stocks, DLF Ltd shot up by 2 per cent, DB Realty by 12.03 per cent, Unitech by 13.08 per cent and HDIL by 4.34 per cent.

Brokers said positive cues from other Asia bourses, which were up following encouraging US jobs data, and continued capital inflows by FIIs boosted trading sentiments.

However, there was profit-booking in select counters, which trimmed early gains.

They also said that the dismissal of a petition by the special court to investigate Home Minister P Chidambaram in the 2G spectrum allocation scam supported positive sentiment.

Major gainers included Larsen and Toubro, BHEL, Siemens Ltd, SBI, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Bajaj Auto, Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Mahindra and Mahindra, Hindalco, Sterlite Industries and Cipla India.