Stock Markets ends higher for fifth session with Nifty near 24,200 mark

New Delhi, June 18 -- Indian Stock Markets on Thursday ended higher for the fifth consecutive session with the Nifty closing near the 24,200 mark.

At close, the Sensex was up 254.36 points or 0.33 percent at 77,409.98, and the Nifty was up 82.30 points or 0.34 percent at 24,168. Nifty Midcap 100 and Smallcap 100 indices rose 0.4 percent each.

The market capitalisation of all BSE-listed stocks witnessed a Rs 2.57 lakh crore increase today as it rose to Rs 477.69 lakh crore.

Among the sectors, bank stocks emerged as one of the top performers with Nifty Bank up by 0.6%. Nifty Healthcare recorded healthy gains of 0.98% while IT stocks declined amid a hawkish US Fed commentary.

Nearly 133 stocks touched their 52-week high levels while 25 sto...