Mumbai, Sep 20 (IANS): A benchmark index for the Indian equities markets rallied Tuesday to close almost 356 points higher and above the 17,000-mark, led by gains in heavyweight stocks like Reliance Industries, Infosys and HDFC.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 16,768.63 points, closed at 17,099.28 points -- up 353.93 points or 2.11 percent from its previous close at 16,745.35 points.
The Sensex climbed the 17,000-point mark for the first time in almost two weeks. It lost 188 points Monday.
The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also ended in the green at 5,140.2 points, up 2.15 percent.
Broader markets also ended in the positive. The BSE midcap index closed 0.9 percent higher, while the BSE smallcap index was up 1.23 percent.
All 13 sectoral indices on the BSE closed in the green. IT, telecom, consumer durables and banking stocks led the gainers' pack.
The market breadth was positive with 1,849 stocks advancing, compared to 937 on the decline and 130 remaining unchanged.
According to data available with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), foreign institutional investors were net sellers to the tune of 0.83 million.
Major gainers on the Sensex included TCS, up 3.94 percent at Rs.1,057.90; SBI, up 3.78 percent at Rs.1,989.05; RIL, up 3.73 percent at Rs.851.50; and DLF, up 3.46 percent at Rs.212.20.
Prominent losers were ONGC, down 2.86 percent at Rs.261.65; and BHEL, down 0.81 percent at Rs.1,643.85.
After the sell-off in the previous session, Asian markets too closed higher.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng index closed 0.51 percent up at 19,014.8 points, while the Chinese Shanghai Composite index ended 0.41 percent higher at 2,447.76 points.
Opening after a holiday, the Japanese Nikkei closed 1.61 percent lower at 8,721.24 points, adjusting to the losses seen in other Asian peers Monday.
European bourses too were ruling higher as traders sought for bargains in stocks which were battered recently.
Britain's FTSE was up 1.22 percent at 5,323.93 points, the German DAX was trading 1.84 percent down at 5,515.81 points.
The French CAC 40 was ruling 1.15 percent up at 2,973.88 points.