Mumbai : Benchmark Sensex defied gravity for the fifth straight session to close at a fresh lifetime high on Thursday as investors poured money into energy and financial shares amid a robust start to the earnings season.
The 30-share Sensex surged 282.48 points to end at 36,548.41, while the broader NSE Nifty reclaimed the crucial 11,000-level with a 75-point leap.
An appreciating rupee, sustained buying by domestic and foreign institutional investors and an encouraging start to the earnings season spurred buying momentum, brokers said.
However, it shed some ground on profit-booking, before finally finishing at 36,548.41, up by 282.48 points, or 0.78 per cent — surpassing its previous record closing of 36,283.25 hit on January 29. The gauge has now gained 973.86 points in five sessions. The broader NSE Nifty index touched a high of 11,078.30 before ending at 11,023.20, up 74.90 or 0.68 per cent. This is its highest closing since January 31, when it had ended at 11,027.70.
Meanwhile, foreign funds bought shares worth a net of Rs 636.27 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) made purchases worth Rs 15.33 crore on Wednesday.
