Following the 395-point surge last week, the Sensex opened on a positive note at 10,617 - up 22 points. Sustained buying thereafter saw the index add gains as the day progressed.
The index touched a new, life-time intra-day high of 10,742 before closing with a huge gain of 1.3% (140 points) at 10,735.
The BSE Metal Index soared over 4% to 7926. The Midcap, Smallcap, Auto, PSU, Healthcare and OIL& Gas indices gained over 1% each at 4987, 6321, 5346, 5821, 3668 and 4545, respectively.
The market breadth was slightly positive. Out of 2,609 stocks traded, 1,451 advanced, 1,085 declined and 73 were unchanged today.
Debutant Reliance Communication Ventures, ONGC, Reliance, power and metal stocks witnessed hectic action today.
Reliance Comminication Ventures (RCoVL) made a dazzling debut today. Beating street expectations of Rs 250, the stock opened at Rs 290 and touched a high of Rs 309. The stock slipped to a low of Rs 277 before ending Day 1 at Rs 291.
Hindalco surged 5.6% to Rs 167. Tata Steel flared up 4.2% to Rs 473.
Tata Power soared 5.4% to Rs 576. NTPC gained 4% at Rs 136, and Reliance Energy added 3.3% to Rs 654.
Tata Motors and Ranbaxy rallied nearly 3% each to Rs 927 and Rs 447, respectively.
ITC (Rs 179), Reliance (Rs 732), Cipla (Rs 562) and ONGC (Rs 1,169) advanced over 2%