Sensex closes above 34,400 level, realty top performer

The BSE Sensex today closed higher after touching a new high in the noon trading session. The 30-share index closed 90.40 points or 0.26% up at 34,443.19 after touching the day's high of 34488.03. 

The rally was led by Coal India Ltd share which closed 5.63% on the BSE after the company said its board has approved a hike in non-coking coal prices for both power and non-power consumers with immediate effect.
Heavy buying seen in the realty stocks amid firm European cues.
 
Broader gains were capped by losses in IT,  financial sectors, auto, telecom and health care stocks.
 
Among BSE sectoral indices, realty index gained 2.88%, followed by energy gained over 1% on the BSE.
  
The benchmark Nifty closed flat at 10,637.00, up 0.13%. Coal India (up 5.63%), YES Bank (up 2.31%), ITC (up 1.94%), Reliance (up 1.34%) and Wipro (up 2.11%) 
 
Traders remained cautious ahead of the corporate results season kicking in this week. Tata Consultancy Services is due to post December-quarter results on Thursday, followed by Infosys on Friday. 
 
The wider Nifty50 of the NSE opened above the 10,600-level at a fresh high of 10,636.85 points from its Monday`s record close at 10,623.60 points.
 
On Monday, the key equity indices, along with the broader market indices, closed at record highs on the back of healthy buying from foreign funds, along with optimism over the upcoming quarterly earnings result season and strong global cues.