Sensex trading 377 points higher

MUMBAI - Backed by positive global cues and a stellar listing of Coal India, a benchmark index of Indian equities Thursday zoomed 377 points, with energy and metal stocks leading the rally.

The 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 20,605.63 points, was ruling at 20,843.21 points, up 377.47 points or 1.84 percent from its previous close at 20,465.74 points.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was trading at 6,264.55 points, up 1.69 percent.

Broader markets indices were trading in the green too, with the BSE midcap index ruling 0.61 percent higher and the BSE smallcap index up 0.47 percent.

Energy, metals, auto and banking stocks led the gainers pack. All the 13 sectoral indices on the BSE were in the positive.

Top Sensex gainers at this time were Tata Motors, Hindalco Industries, SBI and RIL. The two losers were Hero Honda and Bharti Airtel.

The market breadth was positive, with 1,517 stocks advancing, 1,349 declining and 101 remaining unchanged.

Other Asian markets rose after the US Federal Reserve announced a stimulus plan, injecting $600 billion into the world’s largest economy to boost sluggish growth.

The Shanghai Composite index was ruling at 3,086.94 points, up 1.85 percent.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was trading 1.59 percent higher at 24,527.56 points. The Japanese markets ended 2.17 percent higher at 9,358.78 points.

Overnight, the Dow rose 26 points to 11,215 to close at the highest level in two years.