Sensex advances fifth day led by software makers, up 79 points

Mumbai: The benchmark Sensex on Monday climbed 79 points to the highest level in more than three weeks on buying in software stocks amid negative signals from inflation and industrial output data.

After gaining 633.49 points in the previous four sessions, the S~~amp;amp;P BSE Sensex rose 78.95 points, or 0.38 per cent, to 20,607.54.

The index had closed at 20,646.64 on September 19.

The gauge touched the day's high of 20,645.94 on steady inflow of foreign funds, lending support to blue-chip stocks, mainly the information technology sector, on expectations a global economic recovery would increase demand for the software business.

The broader-based CNX Nifty index on the National Stock Exchange rose 16.5 points, or 0.27 per cent to 6,112.70.

The SX40 index on the MCX Stock Exchange was at 12,269.75, up 51.88 points or 0.42 per cent.

Buying picked up even as the government said wholesale price inflation came in at 6.46 per cent in September, compared with 6.1 per cent in the previous month.

Industrial production expanded 0.6 per cent in August from 2.8 per cent in July, the government said on October 11.

Infosys rose 1.52 per cent to Rs 3,323.50 after reporting earnings on October 11.

Tata Consultancy Services jumped 4.27 per cent to Rs 2,214.65 ahead of its results on Tuesday.

The IT sector index was the biggest gainer, advancing 2.32 per cent.

Heavyweight Reliance Industries was up 0.84 per cent to Rs 870.25 before its second-quarter results later on Monday.

Of the 30 Sensex shares, 13 gained, including Wipro, Tata Motors, HDFC Bank, Hero MotoCorp, Dr Reddy's Laboratories, Coal India, State Bank of India, Sesa Sterlite, Sun Pharma and Bajaj Auto.