Rising for the third straight session, A benchmark index of the equities markets on Thursday rose by over 34 points to 20,247.33 to hit a fresh 28-month high on buying amid strong foreign capital inflows.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) advanced by 34.37 points, or 0.17 percent to 20,247.33, a level last seen in January, 2011. The index had gained 521 points in last two trading sessions.
Similarly, the broad-based National Stock Exchange index, Nifty, rose by 23.15 points, or 0.38 percent, to 6,169.90 led by stocks of banking and interest-linked stocks.
Also, the MCX-SX flagship index SX40 rose by 29.35 points, or 0.25 percent, to 11,954.49.
Overseas investors pumped in Rs 1,646.95 crore (around USD 301 million) into local equities on Thursday, as per BSE provisional data.
In 30-BSE index components, 14 stocks gained led by Hindalco, Cipla, RIL, Dr Reddy's, Sterlite Industries and SBI.
The banking stocks gained 1.11 percent, led by SBI, ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank.
The interest-rate linked realty sector index gained the most by 1.81 percent to 1,991.75 followed by oil and gas index by 1.64 percent to 9,053.78.