Banking, oil lift Sensex above 12,300

The benchmark Sensex ended at a new peak above 12,300 level for the first time as buying continued in blue-chip stocks at higher levels. Though the session was volatile, bulls managed to keep the market under their control. Shares from banking and refinery sectors were the key gainers.

The BSE Sensex closed 91.94 points (0.75%) higher at 12,310.72.The Sensex witnessed high degree of volatility, oscillating a huge 203 points in the day’s trading session. The S&P CNX Nifty was up 29 points to 3,634.25, a new all-time closing high. The BSE mid-cap index added 0.50% while the BSE small-cap index advanced 0.58%.