The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex rose by over 95 points on Friday on heavy buying of FMCG and auto stocks.
The Sensex, which gained 450 points in the last two trading sessions, advanced further by 95.36 points to 17,117.69 after touching a high of 17,150.42. The gauge has risen for the third straight day and 1.4 per cent this week.
The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty rose by 25 points to 5,135.50, after touching the day’s high of 5,147.90.
The upsurge in the market was backed by strong demand for Hindustan Unilever, a household products maker, which climbed to a four-month high after its board said it will consider buying back shares.
The index-related Hindustan Unilever, a unit of the world’s second-largest consumer-goods maker, advanced 1.74 per cent to Rs 251.50, near its highest close since January 28.
Led by Maruti Suzuki, auto stocks also gained following reports that automakers will invest an estimated 30 billion dollar during the next four years as demand rises. Maruti climbed 2.64 per cent to Rs 1,331.05.
A mixed trading pattern in Asia and a higher opening in European stock markets on Friday afternoon also bolstered the trading sentiment on hopes that an early solution to the deficit crisis there might bring the global economic recovery back on track.
In the 30-BSE index component, 19 stocks advanced, while ten closed lower. NTPC remained unchanged.
