Mumbai March 16 (IANS) Positive global cues a strong rupee and healthy buying in metals capital goods and consumer durables stocks brought a cheer to the Indian equity markets on Thursday.
The key indices provisionally closed with gains of more half a per cent each well absorbing the 25 basis points (bps) rate hike by the US Federal Reserve on Wednesday for the second time in three months.
The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) rose by 68.95 points or 0.76 per cent to 9 153.75 points.
The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE which opened at 29 482.83 points provisionally closed at 29 585.85 points (at 3.30 p.m.) -- up 187.74 points or 0.64 per cent from the previous close at 29 398.11 points.
The Sensex touched a high of 29 614.79 points and a low of 29 482.83 points during the intra-day trade.
The BSE market breadth was bullish -- with 1 783 advances and 1 045 declines.
On Wednesday the benchmark indices were pulled lower by heavy selling pressure in IT and Teck (technology media and entertainment) stocks coupled with disappointing macro-economic data.
The NSE Nifty slipped by 2.20 points or 0.02 per cent to close at 9 084.80 points while the BSE Sensex was marginally down 44.52 points or 0.15 per cent at 29 398.11 points.
--IANS
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Strong rupee, positive global cues cheer Indian equities (Second Lead)
