Sensex, Nifty hit fresh lifetime high as investors eye earnings, budget

Stocks rose to fresh life-time closing high levels, riding on optimism over earnings, growth and upcoming Budget, with the benchmark BSE Sensex jumping 199 points to end at record 34,352.79 and the Nifty scaling the 10,600-mark for the first time.

Gains in key IT, capital goods, healthcare and metal stocks after consistent buying by domestic and foreign investors helped both the key indices scale new peaks.

The 30-share Sensex opened higher and continued its upward march to touch a new intra-day record high of 34,385.67, surpassing its previous high of 34,188.85 hit on January 5. But it lost some ground due to