Mumbai, March 31 (IANS): A benchmark index of Indian equities markets Monday touched a new high of 22,467.21 points for the sixth consecutive day, surpassing its previous record high of 22,363.97 points hit Friday.

Good buying was observed in metal, consumer durables and auto sectors, while selling pressure was seen in the capital goods sector.

The 30-scrip S&P Sensex of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 22,423.14 points, closed at 22,386.27 points, up 46.30 points or 0.21 percent from its previous day close at 22,339.97 points.

It touched a high of 22,467.21 points and a low of 22,253.78 points intra-day.

The S&P BSE metal index gained 374.83 points, consumer durables index increased by 166.55 points and auto index went up by 137.43 points. However, capital goods index slipped by 57.30 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) closed trade at 8.30 points or 0.12 percent up at 6,704.20 points.

Major Sensex gainers were: Hindalco Industries, up 8.71 percent at Rs.141.70; Tata Steel, up 3.40 percent at Rs.393.85, Sistema Shyam TeleServices Limited, up 2.76 percent at Rs.187.95 and Maruti Suzuki, up 2.04 percent at Rs.1,971.40.

The main losers were: ONGC, down 2.91 percent at Rs.318.70; Dr.Reddy's Laboratories, down 2.15 percent at Rs.2,560.80; Tata Power, down 1.85 points at Rs.84.80; and ITC, down 1.69 points at Rs.352.95.

Among the Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 0.90 percent up; Hong Kong's Hang Seng closed 0.39 percent up; while China's Shanghai Composite Index was down by 0.41 percent.

In Europe, London's FTSE 100 was trading 0.12 percent up, while Germany's DAX Index was down by 0.01 percent and the French CAC 40 Index was down by 0.11 percent.