MUMBAI: Upbeat foreign investors on Tuesday pushed the stock market benchmark Sensex above the 20,000 points-mark for the first time in 32 months, as they bet on companies that are driving the India growth story.

The barometer closed 95.45 points, or 0.48 per cent, up at 20,001.55 points - its best closing since January 15, 2008, when the index ended at 20,251.09 points.
Similarly, the 50-share National Stock Exchange benchmark Nifty breached the psychological 6,000 mark and ended at 6,009.05 points, up 28.6 points, or 0.48 per cent.
Some brokers, however, feel that a short-term correction may be round the corner, but would nonetheless provide good investment opportunities.
Analysts said the rally in Indian market is propelled by strong inflows from overseas fund houses, which have made a net investment of over
` 71,000 crore in local stocks so far in this year.
Today’s close marked the third straight session of gains. Significantly, the Sensex has completed its journey from 17,971 points on August 31 to 20,000 in just 15 trading days. Today’s gain was fuelled by a smart gain in blue-chips like L&T, HDFC, HDFC Bank, TCS, Infosys and BHEL.
Infosys rose 0.9 per cent, TCS 2.5 per cent and Wipro 2.7 per cent. Equity analysts said IT stocks rose after IBM Corporation announced a $1.7 billion takeover. L&T zoomed 2 per cent, Cipla 1.92 per cent and BHEL 1.73 per cent.
With a net gain of 2.93 per cent, Tata Power was the best performer in the Sensex pack. In the BSE-30 pack, 16 stocks ended with gain, while rest 14 closed in the red.
Even in the broader market, 2,123 stocks declined against 883 advances. Reliance Industries Ltd, which holds the maximum weight in the Sensex, acted as a drag, closing 0.60 per cent lower at Rs 1,033.5. ITC plunged 2.58 per cent and led the losers’ pack. Other major losers include Jaiprakash Associates 1.52 per cent, DLF 1.38 per cent and Hindalco 1.22 per cent.