The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex on Wednesday gained 46 points to close at a seven-week high of 17,098.33 points with funds, buoyed by strong global cues, buying into frontline stocks.
The 30-share index was volatile throughout the session but added 45.79 points to end the day
at 17,098.33 points, a level last seen on January 20.
Market leader Reliance Industries and auto major Hero Honda recorded handsome gains of 1.80 per cent and 2.94 per cent respectively.
Marketmen said that firming Asian market trend and a better opening in Europe after positive import and export Chinese data for February, fuelled the uptrend.
Among the 30 BSE index counters, 18 stocks closed higher while 12 ended with losses. The market received support from sectoral indices of oil and gas, FMCG, realty, auto and consumer durables.
However, a fall in stocks in tech, IT, healtcare, metal, bank, capital goods and power sectors capped the upward march in the market.
The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty also rose by 14.75 points to 5,116.25.