Sensex ends at record high above 29,000 ahead of ECB move

Benchmark share indices ended at record closing highs for the third straight session on expectations that the European Central Bank at its meeting later on Thursday would announce monetary stimulus measures.

The 30-share Sensex gained 117 points to end above 29,000 at 29,006 after hitting a fresh record high of 29,060.41 while the 50-share Nifty gained 32 points to close at 8,761 after touching a record high of 8,772.70.

Foreign institutional investors were net buyers in equities to the tune of Rs 2,065 crore, as per the provisional stock exchange data.

The Indian rupee trimmed its initial gains and was down at 61.65 against the US currency compared to previous close of 61.63 on mild bouts of dollar demand from importers.

BSE Healthcare index was the top gainer up 1.7% followed by Capital Goods, Auto, Metal and Realty among others.

BSE Consumer Durables was the top loser down 1.3% after gains in the previous few sessions followed by Oil and Gas.

Pharma shares are among the top gainers led by Sun Pharma up 3.6% while Cipla and Dr Reddy's Labs ended up nearly 1-1.7% each.

Sesa Sterlite came off its day's highs and ended 0.8% higher. The stock had gained in early trades on media reports that the company may soon restart mining operations in the state of Goa where it has a large stake in iron ore mines.

Tata Motors ended up 2.7% after the auto major launched its latest hatchback Bolt petrol variant at Rs 4.65-6.35 lakh (ex-Mumbai) and diesel variant at Rs 5.75-7.32 lakh (Ex-Mumbai) today.

A depreciating rupee has bolstered the technology pack. Infosys has gained 1.4% while Wipro ended 1% higher.

Axis Bank, L&T and ICICI Bank were some of the other Sensex gainers.

Reliance Industries ended down 2.3%. According to a report in the Economic Times the govt has taken a tough stand in an $1 billion dispute over the Panna Mukta-Tapti oilfields.

NTPC has emerged as the top loser to end 2.4% lower.Hero Motocorp, Maruti Suzuki, SBI and HDFC were among the other losers on the 30-share Sensex and are down between 0.4-1.3%.

The broader markets are trading mixed. BSE Midcap and Smallcap indices ended flat.

Market breadth ended weak with 1,575 gainers and 1,347 losers on the BSE.