Sensex gains above 200 points despite losing steam in last hour

NEW DELHI: The equity markets on Friday despite heavy selling in the last hour of trading, managed to close with solid gains.

30-share BSE Sensex closed on 33,462.97, up by 216.27 points while the broader 50-share NSE Nifty gained 81.15 points to finish on 10,333.25. Both the indices gained 0.70 per cent during the day.

In early trade, Sensex gained more than 350 points to hit the day-high of 33,621.96 on the back of exit poll predictions of BJP's victory in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh assembly elections. The Street consolidated on early gains almost through the day before investors indulged in profit booking as the trading session drew to a close.

Among sectoral sub-indices, metal stocks gained the most, surging 2.66 per cent. Bank, financial service and realty sub-indices too gained more than a per cent each. Mahindra & Mahindra, Coal India and Yes Bank were the major gainers gaining above 3 per cent. Tech Mahindra, Cipla and ONGC lost the most.

Bombay Stock Exchange - BSE

National Stock Exchange of India Ltd (NSE)