Sensex: 8000 to 8,500 in 8 sessions

The Sensex crossed 8500 level at mid-session on the Bombay Stock Exchange on Tuesday on brisk buying by funds in index-heavy shares of Reliance Industries, Infosys and some banking stocks.

The Sensex jumped up from 8000 to 8500 join level in just eight trading sessions, the shortest ever period in the bourse's history. It traded at 8511.03 points, a rise of 66.19 at 1430 hrs on Tuesday.

Reliance Industries, heaviest on the Sensex, shot up to a record high of 779.80, higher by Rs 15.20 and second heaviest Infosys Technology to Rs 2519.90, gaining Rs 71.20.

In the banking segment, index-related shares of State Bank, ICICI Bank, Housing Development Finance and HDFC Bank shot up on hectic buying by foreign as well as domestic funds.

Others on the upsurge were Tata Steel, Tata Motors, Larsen and Toubro, Hero Honda, Hindalco, ONGC and Reliance Energy.