IT stocks lift Sensex by 119 points to three-week high

TCS and Infosys, along with HDFC and ICICI Bank, lifted the index. Wipro and Cipla were among the 18 Sensex gainers. Ten of the 12 BSE sectoral indices moved up, led by IT, healthcare and FMCG stocks. The 30-share BSE S&P Sensex opened higher and moved in positive terrain through the day before settling at 21,193.58, up 118.99 points or 0.56 per cent. It was the highest close for the index since 10 December, when it was at 21,255.26. The CNX Nifty on the National Stock Exchange rose 34.90 points, or 0.56 per cent, to end at 6,313.80. The SX40 on the MCX Stock Exchange was up 61.33 points at 12,594.59. Infosys touched a lifetime high as IT counters attracted heavy buying after US jobless data showed a fall last week, raising hopes of an economic revival.

Rupee rises by 31p to 61.85 against $

Mumbai: The rupee recovered most of its overnight losses and closed 31 paise higher at 61.85 against the dollar on Friday after a rally in local equities and fresh sales of the US currency by exporters. A sharp fall in the dollar overseas and continued capital inflows also boosted the rupee. The dollar index, which tracks the performance of the US currency against six major global rivals, was down 0.62 per cent.