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Markets shrug off Pak unrest, warm to new govt in India; Sensex touches 5120 in intra-day trading, ends at all-time high; Nifty at 1505; rupee at 43.42 Vs $

The Bombay Stock Exchange opened on a firm note on Thursday morning. The Sensex was at 5083, up 50 points or almost one per cent at 1330 hours IST over Wednesday's close. Dealers said the market has quickly factored in political uncertainty in Pakistan. Buying was mainly done by institutions and operators.

ITC was close to the upper limit of the circuit breaker while Lupin Labs hit it. Ranbaxy was firm on speculation that it has got a new molecule in its armour. Pharma, software and cement shares were firm. At one point in time, the Sensex surged past 5120 level. Finally, the Sensex ended at 5073.45, its all-time closing high, up 40 points or 0.79 per cent over Thursday's close.

At the National Stock Exchange, the S&P CNX Nifty was at 1519, up 22 points or 1.46 per cent over Wednesday's close of 1497. The Nifty ended at 1505, up eight points or 0.53 per cent.

At the inter-bank foreign exchange market, the Indian rupee was at 43.42 to a US dollar, up one paise from Thursday's close of 43.43.

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