Mumbai: The benchmark closed at a 19-week high at 3,228.82, notching handsome gains of 87.21 points on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) during the week.

The SENSEX spurted by 353.29 points or 12.29 per cent, highest in the current calendar year and the longest winning streak in just five-weeks as far as points are concerned.

The buoyancy appears to retain its hold in the immediate future, as the undercurrent is very strong for further gains, a dealer said.

Old-economy counters like HLL, HPCL, RIL, SBI, Telco, Tisco, BHEL, L&T, ACC, BHEL, BSES, Hero Honda, Bajaj Auto, Ranbaxy and Nestle were in the forefront in the current rally that aided the sharp rise in the SENSEX.

Under the leadership of oil major HPCL, most of the Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) counters also attracted brisk buying support from investors.

Select banking scrips were also in limelight on passing of Securitisation Bill, making it easier for banks to recover huge unpaid loans.

Two-wheeler auto companies such as Bajaj Auto, Hero Honda and TVS Motor were in keen demand on reports of a sharp 67 per cent jump in exports for April/October.

PTI