Sensex rises for fourth session, up 111 pts

The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) benchmark Sensex gained for the fourth straight day on Thursday, up 111 points, led by the auto sector amid a firm trend in global markets.

Sensex, which had gained nearly 300 points in last three trading sessions, advanced further by 111.32 points or 0.64 per cent to 17,503.71.

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) index Nifty rose 32.40 points or 0.61 per cent to 5,332.40.

Brokers said there was sustained buying in interest- sensitive stocks since Tuesday's cut in lending rates by the Reserve Bank. The move has led to interest rate cuts by banks such as PNB (Punjab National Bank) and IDBI bank.

They also said that higher openings in the European markets amid easing worries about the euro-zone debt crisis, further supported the uptrend.

Besides, investor picked up stocks ahead of the results to be announced by market heavyweight Reliance Industries.

The auto sector index gained 2.05 per cent to 10,744.73 as the sector remained in demand.

Infosys, which had lost about 16 per cent in the past couple of sessions after weak revenue outlook for this fiscal, gained 1.31 per cent on value buying.

Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki, Bajaj Auto, Hero MotoCorp, Coal India, HDFC Bank, M&M, TCS were other major gainers.

Of the 30 Sensex stocks, 21 gained, 8 declined while DLF ended unchanged.