Sensex rises 166 points, Nifty reclaims 10,600

Shares marked their highest close since February 5 on Tuesday as gains in financial and energy stocks helped lift the mood, but aluminium producers such as Hindalco Industries Ltd capped the gains on the NSE.

The benchmark BSE Sensex closed up 0.48 percent at 34,616.64. The broader Nifty ended 0.28 percent higher at 10,614.35.

An appreciating rupee, unabated buying by domestic institutional investors (DIIs) and encouraging earnings by blue-chips contributed to the uptrend, brokers said.

Overseas, Asian markets closed mostly higher even as oil prices crossed USD 75 a barrel, the highest level since November 2014.

The BSE 30-share Sensex took off on a positive note at 34,491.38 and advanced to the day's high of 34,706.71 before ending at 34,616.64, up 165.87 points, or 0.48 per cent.

The gauge had gained 35.19 points in the previous session.

The gainers included Reliance Industries, Yes Bank, M&M, Adani Ports, ICICI Bank, L&T, HDFC, Bajaj Auto, Dr Reddy's and ONGC.

The NSE Nifty, after shuttling between 10,636.80 and 10,569, finally settled 29.65 points, or 0.28 per cent higher at 10,614.35.

However, the gains were capped by selling pressure in metals, IT, Tech, power, consumer durables and PSU stocks.

Meanwhile, domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 387.26 crore, while foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth Rs 259.08 crore yesterday, provisional data released by the stock exchanges showed.

(With inputs from PTI)