Markets, economy, corporates on a roll

 The prices of 172 stocks hit new 52-week highs on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), bringing the total number of stocks hitting fresh 52-week price highs in the first three days of the current month to 240.

 The list of stocks at new price highs includes 15 in the Sensex basket. And as many as 62 scrips, including six Sensex stocks, hit their all-time price highs.

 Bajaj Auto hit an all-time high of Rs 861, BSES of Rs 411, Reliance Industries of Rs 459.85, Tata Steel of Rs 292.90, SBI of Rs 466 and HDFC of Rs 550.90.

 Among other stocks, Ashok Leyland (Rs 224), Sterlite Industries (Rs 675) and GE Shipping (Rs 86.70), too, touched their all-time highs.

 As a result of the rise in prices of index heavyweights ITC, Reliance Industries and the State Bank of India, the Sensex closed 78.47 points higher at a 37-month high of 4,631.39. The National Stock Exchange's S&P CNX Nifty closed at a 39-month high of 1,478.90.

 In the NSE's futures and options segment, Nifty futures traded at a premium to the cash price. October Nifty futures rose 2.69 per cent to settle at 1486.20, 7.30 points higher than the underlying index.

 In Nifty options, the top traded option was the Nifty October call at 1470.

 The ITC scrip gained 3.86 per cent to close at Rs 840.20, Reliance Industries was up 2.12 per cent to close at Rs 458.10, State Bank of India was up 2.01 per cent at Rs 464.80 and Hindustan Lever was up 0.52 per cent at Rs 191.60.

 Public sector undertakings were in the limelight following the government