Monday, February 13 2006 18:03 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Capital goods stocks remained the constant supporter to the benchmark sensex as it set a new peak of 10,182.77 points level, a record intra-day high.

The Bombay Stock Exchange's Sensitive index rose 62.28 points, or 0.6 per cent, to close at 10,173.25. The index surpassed the record 10,110.97 set on Feb. 10. The second largest wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty gained 13.60 points, or 0.5 per cent, at 3041.15.

Infrastructure major and index-heavy Larsen and Toubro led engineering-equipment companies higher on expectation of some soaps to be announced for the industry in the budget.

Capital goods index was at the fore-front with a gain of 284.66 points at 7416.78, after shares of Larsen surged Rs.185.70 to Rs.2,499.15, ABB Ltd. by Rs.58.40 to 2,483.65 and Bharat Heavy Electricals by Rs.54.05 at Rs.1,891.70.

Auto index was the second best performer by gaining 73.03 points at 6295.38 as stocks of Bajaj Auto, Maruti Udyog, Mahindra and Mahindra and Tata Motors shot up on brisk buying. Bharat Forge, an autoparts maker rose Rs.9.65 to Rs.417, on reports of company's plans to increase its market share globally, mostly through acquisitions.

Healthcare index rose by 33.84 points at 3648.02 after segment and sensex heavy Cipla Ltd. advanced by Rs.3.65 to Rs.565.15. The nation's second-biggest drugmaker gained after saying that it would give three bonus shares for every two held besides the raising Rs.882 crore for expansion and acquisitions.