Sensex rises 248 points to close at lifetime high; Nifty nears its peak

BSE benchmark Sensex climbed 248 points to close at its all-time high of 61,872 on Tuesday, propped up by robust fag-end buying in banking and energy stocks amid a positive trend in global equities.

A strengthening rupee, encouraging domestic inflation data and unabated foreign capital inflows further bolstered sentiment, traders said.

After a see-saw session, the 30-share BSE Sensex rose 248.84 points or 0.40 per cent to settle at 61,872.99 — surpassing its previous closing peak of 61,795.04 on November 11. During the day, the index witnessed a high of 61,955.96 — its 52-week intraday high— and a low of 61,436.90. 

The broader