Sensex scales another peak, closes above 9,500 marks

    Mumbai: The stock markets on Tuesday gained further ground with the country's benchmark index scaling another milestone to cross 9,500 level for the first time. Nifty also closed at a new all-time high. The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) 30-share sensitive index opened 11.69 points up at 9,401.83. After touching an intra-day low of 9,391 in the early morning deals, the index bounced back smartly on the back of all round buying support in the latter half of the trading session. The benchmark index closed 149 points or 1.3 percent higher at 9,539.37, after scaling an all-time high of 9,546.78. In the broader markets, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) Nifty opened flat at 2,835.95. It closed 47.40 points or 1.7 percent higher at 2883.35 levels. All the sectoral indices closed in the green. The biggest gainer - the BSE healthcare index firmed up 1.9 percent or 59 points. Grasim Industries, Dr Reddys Laboratories, ACC, Maruti Udyog, HDFC and Wipro were the biggest gainer of the day. Grasim Industries closed 3.9 per cent or Rs 53 up at Rs 1,429. Among the index heavyweight - Reliance moved up smartly to closed at an all-time high of Rs 923, before settling 2.3 percent (Rs 21) higher at Rs 920. While ITC gained 1.9 percent at Rs 143, HLL was marginally up at Rs 196. ONGC was up 1.4 percent at Rs 1,210 Cipla Limited that slipped 0.6 per cent was the only counter to end the day in the red.