Mumbai, Jan 10 (IANS): A benchmark index for Indian equities Tuesday rose past the 16,000-mark and was trading 285 points higher on broadbased buying and as the rupee gained strength against the US dollar.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 15,898.32 points, was ruling at 16,077.55 points around 12.50 p.m, 262.83 points or 1.66 percent up from its previous close at 15,814.72 points.
It had touched a high of 16,111.12 points.
The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also was trading in the positive at 4,821.75 points - up 1.66 percent or 78.95 points from its previous close.
Broader markets were also in the green. The BSE 500 index was ruling 1.82 percent higher from its previous close.
The market breadth was positive with 1,973 stocks advancing, compared to 605 on the decline. Another 85 remained unchanged.
Prominent gainers on the 30-scrip Sensex included M&M, SBI, RIL and ICICI Bank. There were only two losers at this time -- Tata Power and TCS.
Asian markets were mixed as investors hoped for some concrete steps from leading Euro zone economies France and Germany towards resolving the Euro debt crisis.
The Japanese Nikkei closed 0.38 percent up at 8,422.26 points.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.72 percent to rule at 19,001.69 points, while the Chinese Shanghai Composite index gained 2.66 percent and was trading at 2,285.15 points.
The South Korean Kospi was up 1.46 percent to end at 1,853.22 points.