Sensex crosses 20,000-mark, first time since Jan 31

Sensex crosses 20,000-mark, first time since Jan 31Mumbai, May 8 : A benchmark index of the Indian equities markets Wednesday crossed the 20,000-level-mark for the first time in more than three months gaining 119.23 points as fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) and bank stocks rallied.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened in the positive at 19,950.22 points, touched 20,008.18 points about an hour before closure, up 119.23 points or 0.60 percent from its previous day close at 19,888.95 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 20,008.92 points and low of 19,851.22 points in the intra-day trade. The Sensex had last crossed the psychological mark Jan 31.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was trading 0.63 percent or 38.05 points up at 6,081.60 points.

The BSE FMCG index was up 101.09 points followed by bank index, up 31.99 points, and the healthcare index, up 8.26 points, oil and gas index, up 6.87 points, and realty index, up 4.30 points.

On Tuesday, the Sensex had closed more than one percent up and touched its highest level in the last three months at 19,888.95 points. The Sensex had closed at 19,894.98 points on Jan 31. (IANS)