Sensex spurts by 222 pts on global recovery hopes

Brokers said fund-based buying picked up on reports that the global economic recession is almost over.

The US Federal Reserve Chairman, Ben S Bernanke, said the worst US recession since the 1930s has probably ended.

The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty also crossed a crucial 4,900 points level gaining 66.30 points to close at 4,958.40 points.

Among the 30 Sens*x stocks, 24 scrips closed with gains and six with losses.

The metal sector index gained the most by 4.20 per cent to 14,527.67 points, after Tata Steel rose by Rs 40.35 to Rs 531.60, its highest in a year.

Sterlite Industries, the biggest copper producer, rose by Rs 27.55 to Rs 771.05 after metal prices moved up in overseas markets as sales at US retailers jumped by the most in three years in August.

Both the heaviest on the Sens*x, Infosys Technologies rose by 2.10 per cent to Rs 2,317.65 and Reliance Industries by 0.15 per cent to Rs 2,183.50.