SENSEX CROSS 20000 AGAIN

Boosted by growth in industrial production in March, the BSE benchmark Sensex today closed above 20,000-mark after a gap of 100 days and the NSE Nifty ended at its highest level in 2013 on robust buying in auto, consumer durables, FMCG and banking stocks. The BSE 30-share index initially moved in a narrow range but later bounced to a high of 20,119.14 on rise in IIP data. It finally concluded at over three-and-a-half-month high of 20,082.62, a net rise of 143.58 points or 0.72 per cent. Sensex had consistently been trading around 20,000-mark in the past few sessions. It finally closed above this key level on sustained buying by FIIs. Traders said overseas investors largely ignored data that showed for full 2012-13 fiscal, IIP slipped to 1 per cent -- the lowest since 1991-92. "Markets have been moving up at a fast pace in the past few weeks on the back of supportive global markets, consistent FII flows and in-line / better-than-expected quarterly results," said Dipen Shah, Head of Private Client Group Research, Kotak Securities. Similarly, the 50-issue CNX Nifty of the NSE also rose by 44.60 points, or 0.74 per cent, to end at 2013-closing high of 6,094.75. The MCX-SX flagship index, SX40 closed up by 80.66 points, or 0.68 per cent, at 11,874.70. Smart rise in key heavyweights like ITC, HDFC Bank, Tata Motors, ICICI Bank, M&M, Maruti Suzuki and ONGC mainly supported the surge in the Sensex.