Mumbai, Jan 21 (IANS): Positive European cues ahead of a possible European Central Bank (ECB) stimulus, led the two benchmark indices of the Indian equities to touch new highs during the afternoon trade session Wednesday.

The barometer index of the Indian equities market touched a new high of 28,958.10 in the intra-day trade, crossing its previous record high of 28,829.29 points breached Tuesday.

The markets had rallied 522.66 points or 1.85 percent and closed at 28,784.67 points in Tuesday's trade. The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) had closed at 28,262.01 points on Monday.

Healthy buying was observed in capital goods, banking and consumer durables sectors, while metal, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) and oil and gas scrip came under selling pressure.

The S&P BSE Sensex which opened at 28,843.09 points, was trading at 28,898.48 points (at 12.45 p.m.), up 113.81 points or 0.40 percent from the previous day's close at 28,784.67 points.

The Sensex had touched a high of 28,958.10 points and a low of 28,792.57 points in the trade so far.

The S&P capital goods index surged by 175.35 points, banking index moved up by 98.27 points and consumer durables index was higher by 97.79 points.

However, the metal index was down 101.22 points, FMCG index was lower by 52.40 points and oil and gas index slipped 21.32 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) too reached a new record high of 8,741.85 points in the intra-day trade, crossing its previous high of 8,707.90 points breached Tuesday.

It was trading up 15.95 points or 0.18 percent at 8,711.55 points.

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