Sensex closes at new peak of 38,336.76; Reliance Industries crosses Rs 8 tn mark

Sensex edged higher to a record close, driven by index heavyweight Reliance Industries Ltd, which created history by becoming the country`s first company to cross Rs 8 trillion ($114.14 billion) mark in market capitalisation. The benchmark BSE Sensex closed 0.13 percent higher at 38,336.76, while the broader NSE Nifty ended up 0.1 percent at 11,582.75.
 
Shares of Reliance Industries ended 1.8 percent higher, while Larsen & Toubro Ltd gained over 2 percent. Among losers, HDFC Bank declined 0.8 percent. 
 
During the late afternoon session, the key Indian equity indices traded on a positive note. The key indices had scaled fresh intra-day highs during the morning trade session, as the S&P BSE Sensex touched a high of 38,487.63 points while the NSE Nifty50 climbed a peak of 11,620.70 points.
 
However, broadly negative Asian markets due to investors' fears over a rise in trade protectionist measures had subdued the key indices. But healthy buying in capital goods, healthcare and IT counters arrested the slide and supported the market`s upward movement, according to market observers. 
 
Around 2.15 pm, Nifty50 of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) traded at 11,584.05 points, up by 13.15 points or 0.11 per cent, from its previous close. The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex), which opened at 38,416.65 points, traded at 38,358.86 points -- higher by 73.11 points or 0.19 per cent -- from its previous session`s close of 38,285.75 points.
 
Watch this Zee Business video

During the intra-day trade, Sensex touched a low of 38,227.36 points.