Led by RIL Sensex gains 158 points

The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sens*x on Monday rose by 158 points on sustained buying by funds in heavy-weight stocks led by Reliance Industries. 

The Sens*x, which had gained 236 points on Friday, added 158.33 points to close at 17,180.18 points.

The wide-based National Stock Exchange's Nifty gained 51.10 points to close at 5,103.55 points. It moved between 5,113.10 points and 5,052.10 points during the session.

The current rally was backed by Reliance Industries, the heaviest Sens*x counter, after the energy giant made an offer to buy controlling stake in US-based bankrupt petrochemicals company LyondellBasel. RIL stocks surged by 3.31 percent to Rs 2,195.50.

Among the 30 Sens*x stocks, 20 posted gains while 10 scrips closed with losses.

The oil and gas segment index gained the most by rising 2.55 percent to 10,430.25 points followed by the FMCG index, which rose by 2.06 percent to 2,912.94 points.

The healthcare index rose by 1.58 per cent to 4,758.41 points and the metal index by 1.50 per cent to 16,337.66 points.

However fall in stocks of tech, realty, consumer durables and capital goods capped the rising trend.

The market was partly boosted by a firming trend in Asian region and a better opening in Europe.