Sensex crosses 31,000-mark, Nifty nears 9,600 level (Second Lead)

Mumbai May 26 (IANS) Healthy buying in metal and automobile stocks and a strong rupee took the Indian equity markets to a record high during the mid-afternoon trade session on Friday.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE crossed the 31 000 mark for the first time to touch a new high of 31 034.30 points intra-day.

At 1.45 p.m. the Sensex traded at 31 008.24 points -- up 258.21 points or 0.84 per cent from its previous close at 30 750.03 points.

The wider 51-scrip NSE Nifty also traded close to the important 9 600 level. It traded at 9 584.10 points -- up 74.35 points or 0.78 per cent.

The Nifty too touched a new high of 9 592.15 points intra-day.

--IANS
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