Sensex continues to rule above 26K, ends higher by 57 pts

Mumbai, Apr 27 (PTI) The S&P BSE benchmark sensex continued to rule above 26K level for the second consecutive , moving up by another 57 points to close at 26,064.12 in view of short-covering from operators ahead of the expiry of futures and options April contract tomorrow.

Persistent foreign capital inflows also boosted the market. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) and Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 512.22 crs yesterday, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges.

Shares of Telecom, Refinery, FMCG, Energy, IT and Teck sectors firmed up on good buying enquiries but Banking, Power Finance and Realty sectors declined on selling pressure.

The Sensex resumed lower at 25,956.42 and hovered between 26,092.93 and 25,885.24 before ending at 26,064.12, showing a gain of 56.82 points or 0.22 per ent.

It has gained by 385.19 points or 1.50 per cent in two days.

The NSE 50-share Nifty also rose by 17.25 points or 0.22 per cent to 7,979.90.

In overseas stock markets, Asian stocks ended lower as traders awaited policy decisions from the Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan. Key indices in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Sinagpore, South Korea and Taiwan moved down by 0.21 pct to 0.69 pct.

European markets were trading narrowly mixed as key indices in France and Germany moved up by 0.04 pct to 0.13 pct while UK's FTSE was quoted down by 0.23 pct. .