MUMBAI: Stock market bellwether Sensex on Tuesday advanced 40 points after an erratic session that saw investors selling shares at the day’s higher levels ahead of Wednesday’s festival holiday. Interest in Reliance Industries also helped the market advance.

The Bombay Stock Exchange’s 30-share index rose 40.45 points, or 0.23 per cent, to close at 17,451.02 points, although at one point it touched a low of 17,356.64. Fourteen of the Sensex blue chips closed in the green.