Sensex rises 80 points, metal, capital goods stocks up (Roundup)

Mumbai, July 18 (IANS) A benchmark index of Indian equities markets Wednesday closed almost 80 points up, led by good buying in metal, capital goods, realty stocks and positive European cues.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,113.37 points, closed at 17,185.01 points, up 0.47 percent or 79.71 points from its previous day's close at 17,105.30 points.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also closed 0.45 percent higher at 5,216.30 points.

The BSE metal index was high at 153.98 points and so were capital goods and realty indices -- 105.38 points and 15.53 points respectively.

The major Sensex gainers were Bajaj Auto, 5.20 percent at Rs.1,522.35; Tata Power, up 2.71 percent at Rs.98.40; Jindal Steel, up 2.67 percent at Rs.426.55; Sterlite Inds, up 2.43 percent at Rs.103.35; and Maruti Suzuki, up 2.31 percent at Rs.1,224.30.

The losers were Tata Motors, down 1.93 percent at Rs.221.55; Dr Reddy's Lab, down 1.85 percent at Rs.1,672; NTPC, down 0.79 percent at Rs.157; SBI, down 0.59 percent at Rs.2,185.95; and Cipla, down 0.56 percent at Rs.329.70.

Among other Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 0.32 percent down and Hong Kong's Hang Seng closed 1.11 percent down. China's Composite index was 0.37 percent down.

At closing bell here, European markets were in the green. France's CAC was up 0.57 percent while Germany's DAX was up 0.11 percent, and Britain's FTSE 100 was up 0.01 percent.

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