Sensex closes 135 points up, seventh straight weekly gain

A benchmark index at Indian equities markets Friday closed 135 points up, its seventh consecutive week of gains. Robust foreign fund inflows helped markets rise with consumer durables and power stocks leading the gainers pack.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) opened at 18,331.2 points, closed at 18,289.35 points, 135.36 points or 0.75 percent up from its previous close at 18,153.99 points.

The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also closed higher at 5,564.3 points, up 42.35 points or 0.77 percent from its previous close.

Overseas funds, which have been the main catalyst for the dramatic rise in Indian equities in 2012, continued with their buying spree.

According to data available with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), foreign institutional investors (FIIs) bought a whopping $444.05 billion Friday.

FIIs have put in $4.85 billion since the start of the year, having bought equities worth $2.03 billion in January and $2.81 billion till Friday during February.

Broader markets also closed in the green, with the BSE 500 index ending 0.64 percent up. The BSE midcap index closed flat while the BSE smallcap index slipped 0.21 percent.

The market breadth was, however, negative with 1,394 stocks advancing, 1,583 on the decline and 119 unchanged.

Prominent gainers on the 30-scrip Sensex included BHEL, up 6.53 percent at Rs.303.45; Tata Power, up 4.68 percent at Rs.118.65; SBI, up 2.88 percent at Rs.2,416.75 and Wipro, up 2.43 percent at Rs.449.20.

Major losers included Hero MotoCorp, down 3.61 percent at Rs.2,109.70; Maruti Suzuki, down 2.74 percent at Rs.1,320; Hindalco, down 2.3 percent at Rs.151.10 and GAIL, down 1.21 percent at Rs.380.75.

Asian markets rose on signs that eurozone officials will soon approve a long-awaited bailout for Greece, reducing the risk of a debt default. Positive jobs and manufacturing data, a sign of healthiness in the US economy also enthused investors.

The Japanese Nikkei rose 1.58 percent to close at 9,384.17 points, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng moved up 1.01 percent at 21,491.62 points.

The Chinese Shanghai Composite index closed flat at 2,357.18 points.

European markets were ruling in the green.

Britain’s FTSE 100 was up 0.32 percent at 5,904.18 points. The German DAX was trading 0.83 percent higher at 6,807.95 points.

The French CAC 40 was trading 0.92 percent up at 3,424.4 points.