Equity markets surge to new highs, banking stocks soar (Second Lead)

Mumbai May 25 (IANS) The Indian equity markets on Thursday soared to new high levels as positive global cues a strong rupee and healthy buying in banking capital goods and automobile stocks lifted investors sentiments.

According to market observers short-covering triggered on account of May futures and options (F&O) contracts expiry also led the key indices to provisionally close with gains of around 1.5 per cent each.

The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) reclaimed its psychologically important 9 500-mark and closed at 9 509.75 points -- up 149.20 points or 1.59 per cent.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE surged by 446.41 points or 1.47 per cent to provisionally close at a new high of 30 750.03 points.

The Nifty touched a new intra-day high of 9 523.30 points and the Sensex that of 30 793.43 points.

Stocks of Larsen and Toubro (L&T) HDFC Bank ICICI Bank Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services were among the top gainers on the BSE.

--IANS
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