| The market took cues from the Asian and US indices, which rallied after an unexpected rise in pending US home sales data allayed concern that a slump in housing could drag down the world's largest economy. |
| "The strength in the market was largely on account of global cues, with investors taking comfort from the US housing report," a dealer said. |
| The pending US home sales data, a measure of future US home buying, rose 0.7 per cent in February against expectations of a 0.5 per cent drop. |
| The Bombay Stock Exchange's 30-share Sensex ended at 12786.77, up 162.19 points or 1.3 per cent from Tuesday. Intraday it moved between 12691.24 and 12835.36. |
| The National Stock Exchange's 50-share Nifty ended at 3724.50, up 33.85 points or 0.9 per cent. Intraday it moved between 3689.75 and 3751.40. |
| Turnover on both the exchanges was roughly Rs 10,100 crore, compared with Rs 9,600 crore on Tuesday. |
| Zee Entertainment Enterprises ended up 5.5 per cent at Rs 253. |
| Bharat Heavy Electricals closed up 4 per cent at Rs 2,341. BHEL on Tuesday said it expects revenue of $10 billion by 2011-12 from $4 billion now on the back of high order book position. |
| Shares of metal companies gained on firm prices on the London Metal Exchange and in Asia, on the back of improved demand outlook for base metals. |
| Sterlite Industries, up 7 per cent at Rs 465, was the top Nifty gainer. Hindalco Industries was up 1 per cent at Rs 130. Sterlite Industries and Reliance Petroleum were included in Nifty 50 from on Wednesday, and Jet Airways and Oriental Bank of Commerce were excluded. |
| Auto shares declined amid worries sales would be hit due to rising borrowing and input costs and intense competition. |
| Hero Honda, down 3 per cent at Rs 639, was the worst hit on Nifty. Mahindra and Mahindra ended down 2.7 per cent at Rs 708. |
| Technology shares fell after the rupee briefly appreciated to a near eight-year high of Rs 42.83 against the dollar. However, tech shares ended off lows. |
| Satyam Computer Services ended down 2 per cent at Rs 450. |
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