Sensex creates history; zooms past 8,000

Reliance triggers rally, Infosys completes the run...

The Sensex created history by crossing the psychological barrier of 8,000 with considerable ease today.

After opening with a small positive gap of 10 points at 7,957, the index crossed the 8,000-mark in early deals. After moving above the 8,000-mark for most part of the session, the index zoomed to a high of 8,060 towards the closing bell.

The Sensex finally closed the session on an extremely bullish note at 8,053 - a gain of 106 points (1.33%).

All the sectoral indices, except BSE Consumer Durables Index, logged gains. The BSE Auto Index was up 1.8% (59 points) at 3,408. The BSE Bankex moved up 1.7% (78 points) to 4,639. The BSE Teck index was up 1.3% (27 points) at 2,084. The BSE Oil & Gas Index was also up over a per cent (43 points) at 3,724.

The mood was extremely bullish - out of 2,655 scrips traded, 1,441 advanced, 1,157 declined and 57 were unchanged today.

Infosys zoomed 2.5% (Rs 58) to Rs 2,422.

Reliance touched a high of Rs 746 in early deals, and helped put the Sensex firmly past the 8,000-mark today. After trading on a firm note through the session, the stock finally closed with a gain of Rs 9 at Rs 738.

ONGC moved up Rs 11 to Rs 993. HLL was up a rupee at Rs 166. ITC declined Rs 7 to Rs 1,823, and SBI was down a rupee at Rs 837.

Bajaj zoomed 4.6% (Rs 68) to Rs 1,536. Tata Motors added 3% (Rs 15) to Rs 511.

HDFC advanced nearly 4% (Rs 35) to Rs 937. ICICI Bank moved up 3.7% (Rs 18) to Rs 506. BHEL added 1.6% (Rs 18) to Rs 1,094.

Bharti was up Rs 5 at Rs 330. ACC, Cipla, Dr. Reddy's, Grasim, HDFC Bank, L&T and Tata Steel, TCS and Satyam also closed with gains today.

Indo-Gulf Fertlisers gained over 8% (Rs 13) to Rs 169. IDFC moved up 7% (Rs 5) to Rs 73. BPCL added over 5% (Rs 19) to Rs 385.

Sterling Biotech was the most active counter with a turnover of over Rs 307 crore followed by Reliance (Rs 207 crore), IDFC (Rs 95 crore), Bajaj Auto (Rs 85 crore) and Scandent Solutions (Rs 60 crore).