Sensex gains 131 points, led by RIL ahead of its results

The BSE Sensex gained for the third straight day today, adding 131 points to close at 19,602, led byReliance Industries ahead of its fourth quarter results and a firm global trend.

Brokers said investor sentiment remained positive on the back of steady FII inflows and expectations of encouraging Q4 earnings from RIL, to be announced this evening.

However, lower-than-expected earnings by software major TCS and higher food inflation for the week ended April 9, capped the gains.

The 30-share Bombay Stock Exchange index, Sensex, which climbed 380 points in the previous two sessions, added another 131.25 points, or 0.67 per cent to close the day at 19,602.23.

The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty also surged 33.05 points, or 0.56 per cent to close at 5,884.70. It touched the session's high of 5,912.90 and a low of 5,864.35.

The RIL stocks rose by 1.39 per cent to Rs 1,039.95. However, having failed to meet market expectations,Tata Consultancy Services fell 2.23 per cent to Rs 1,191.65. It had gained two per cent in the early trade.

A firm trend in the Asian markets and higher openings in Europe, followed by overnight gains in the US supported Indian markets.

While metals, oil and gas, realty, bank and auto sectors, pushed up the market, a weak trend in capital goods, power and IT sectors reduced the gains.