NSE index breaches 6,000 for first time since January 2011

MUMBAI: NSE stock index rose 0.8% on Wednesday to breach the 6,000 mark for the first time in two years after the US House of Representatives approved a deal on the fiscal cliff, sparking broad-based buying. Banking shares led the gainers as hopes of a January rate cut gathered steam. ICICI Bank rose 0.9%, while State Bank of India rose 1.3%. 

The 50-stock NSE index was up 0.8% as of 0553 GMT, after earlier rising to as high as 6,000.50 points, trading above that key psychological level for the first time since Jan. 7, 2011.