Sensex spurts 874.18 points

The Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) too rose 256.05 points at 17,329.60.

The day opened on a strong note at 17,234.60, up 421 points.

During the day, it rallied 954 points at 57,991, the day's high, before closing at 57,911.68, surging 874.18 points from its previous close.

The Sensex registered the day's high and low at 57,991.55 and 57,311.86 points respectively.

The Nifty recorded the day's high and low at 17,414.70 and 17,215.50 respectively.

Sectoral indices like auto, industrials, IT and bankex kept a rally intact for another day.

In scripts, Mahindra & Mahindra was the top gainer, up 3.50 per cent to Rs 911.35 followed by Maruti Suzuki by 2.70 per cent to Rs 7,825.85, Bajaj Finserv by 2.46 per cent to Rs 15,890, Asian Paints by 2.38 per cent to Rs 3,156.70 and Reliance Industries by 2.35 per cent to Rs 2,782.15.

The losers were Tata Steel by 0.88 per cent to Rs 1,302.20, Bharti Airtel by 0.63 per cent to Rs 734.75 and Nestle India Ltd by 0.60 per cent to Rs 18,203.90.

The Mid Cap rose by 1.28 per cent and the Small Cap by 1.33 per cent. In 30 scrips, 27 advanced while 3 declined.

European stocks were up on Thursday as investors kept an eye on developments in the war between Russia and Ukraine.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 advanced 0.4 per cent. In Asia, main indices in Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and China ended on a positive 1-2 per cent.