Sensex closes at new peak of 30,248.17; Nifty ends above 9,400-mark for first time

New Delhi: The benchmark BSE Sensex soared 324.94 points to close at new peak of 30,248.17 while the broader Nifty ended above 9,400-mark for the first time Wednesday on widespread buying spurred by forecast of a normal monsoon amid positive global cues.

Sentiment got a leg up after data showed that foreign funds, which were net sellers on the Indian bourses for the past few sessions, made fresh purchases in yesterday's trade.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) yesterday said the monsoon this year could be 'normal' and bring 100 percent rainfall instead of 96 percent it predicted earlier, which is expected to give a booster dose to the rural economy.

The 30-share BSE index ended 314.92 or 1.05 percent higher at 30,248.17 after moving in range of 30,271.60-29,987.44. The index broke its previous record closing of 30,133.35 reached on April 26.

On similar lines, the National Stock Exchange index Nifty closed up 90.45 points, or 0.97 percent, to 9,407.30, overtaking its previous record closing high of 9,359.90 reached on May 4, as well as the intra-day peak of 9,377.10 hit on May 5.