Markets end higher

After remaining range bound in afternoon trade, the market firmed up in late trade as European markets, which opened after Indian markets, started on a firm note. ICICI bank surged in late trade. Reliance Industries firmed up. Banking, oil & gas and realty stocks were in demand. IT stocks edged lower.

Sensex was up 208.57 points or 1.07% at 19738.07, and the Nifty up 81.65 points or 1.39% at 5940.00.

Reliance Industries rose 1.01% to Rs 2892.80, off day’s low of Rs 2863.India’s largest private sector bank by assets ICICI Bank rose 2.77% to Rs 1172, off day’s low of Rs 1131.India’s second largest software exporter by sales Infosys Technologies fell 0.65% to Rs 1604.

ONGC soared 4.26% to Rs 1206, Tata Motors jumped 4.25% to Rs 774, State Bank of India gained 2.70% to Rs 2380, Hindalco Industries gained 2.19% to Rs 198, and Cipla rose 2.54% to Rs 189.50.

Tata Steel fell 1.37% to Rs 861, Satyam Computers declined 0.66% to Rs 438, Grasim Industries gave away 0.49% to Rs 3795, Reliance Energy shed 0.48% to Rs 1884.10 and Hindustan Unilever declined 0.19% to Rs 206.20.