Sensex zooms 249pts; Metal index up 3%

The Sensex zoomed to a high of 11,898, and is now up 249 points at 11,895.

The BSE Metal index has soared nearly 3% to 10,361. The FMCG, IT and Oil & Gas indices rallied over 2% each to 2,280, 4,093 and 5,608, respectively.

Cipla has surged 5.5% to Rs 261. ONGC has soared nearly 4% to Rs 1,374. HDFC has rallied 3.5% to Rs 1,300.

Grasim, Tata Steel and Tata Motors have gained over 3% each at Rs 2,375, Rs 642 and Rs 945, respectively.

Bajaj Auto, Wipro, ACC and Infosys are the other major gainers.

Ranbaxy and Larsen & Toubro are the only losers among the Sensex stocks.

Out of 2,389 stocks traded so far, 1,626 have advanced, 704 have declined and the rest are unchanged.