Sensex up 465 points at 2-month high

With bulls back in action,the Sensex surged smartly to close at a two-month high as funds bought bargains from battered down blue-chips led by software companies amidst firm global markets and indications of strong fourth quarter results.

With foreign funds stepping up purchases and bears going for short-covering ahead of expiry of derivatives contract on March 31,the Bombay Stock Exchange 30-share Sensex closed the day at 18,815.64,a sharp rise of 464.90 points or 2.53 per cent.

The benchmark has gained 976.59 points or 5.47 per cent in the last four days.

The NSE 50-share Nifty also zoomed by 131.85 points or 2.39 per cent today and crossed 5,600-mark to close at a

2-month high of 5,654.25.

The previous high of the Sensex was on January 25,when it had settled at 18,969.45.

The rally was led by foreign funds which bought stocks worth Rs 1,446 crore on Friday. With this,FII inflows have touched Rs 2,300 crore in the last four days.