Sensex up 109 points, closes at 9,648

It was yet another record-setting day at the bourses on Wednesday with the Sensex going up by 1.14 per cent over yesterday's all-time high.

Buoyed by strong foreign fund flows and retail buying, the BSE benchmark index climbed 109 points to 9,648.08. The Nifty, too, scaled new peaks by closing at 2,904.40 points, higher by 0.73 per cent.

FIIs, which pumped in nearly Rs 477.70 crore on Monday, continued to purchase heavily and retail investors also made good buying on hopes of robust third quarter results by corporates to be declared next week.

"A favourable global climate, sustained foreign fund buying, and expectations of decent third quarter earnings have resulted in robust buying," said a broker.

The global markets showed strength after the minutes of the US Federal Open Market Committee's December meeting indicated the Fed's rate hiking cycle was nearing an end leading to speculation that more foreign fund investments were headed towards emerging markets like India.

The two new scrips, PVR Ltd and Ramsarup Industries, saw price appreciation on the first day on Wednesday. While the film exhibitor rose to Rs 295 from its listing price of Rs 266.85, Ramsarup saw its price go up from Rs 60 to Rs 83 at close.

Other gainers included RIL which gained Rs 10.10 to close at Rs 929.60, Infosys up by Rs 41.60 to Rs 3,052.25 and Bajaj Auto up by Rs 34.85 to Rs 2,051.65.