Sensex snaps 3-day losing streak, gains over 184 pts

MUMBAI: The BSE benchmark sensex today gained over 184 points, cutting short three-day losses with investors buying recently battered bluechips.

The 30-share sensex, which had lost 665 points in last three runs, gained 184.40 points at 18,596.02 on increased demand for refinery, consumer durables, realty and auto sector stocks.

Consumer durable sector index made handsome gains, rising 1.73 per cent to 6,874.87 on hopes that better rains would boost crop and improve purchasing power in the rural areas.

Oil and gas sector index followed next, rising by 1.70 per cent to 9,152.46, propelled by the Sensex leader Reliance Industries that rose by 1.89 per cent to Rs 864.55 a piece.

Realty sector rose 1.69 per cent to 2,149.83 as biggest developer DLF surged about 3 per cent per cent on reports that HCL Group may buy a stake in its insurance venture.

Among IT stocks, largest software exporters TCS, recovered some its previous session losses, gaining 0.36 per cent to Rs 1,150.90 a share. The company will declare its earnings tomorrow. Infosys, which missed market expectations in its first quarterly results, was still down with marginal losses.

Broad-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty rose by 59.30 points to 5,585.45.