Sensex surges 432 points to close at 44,260; Nifty settles near 13,000-mark

Equity indices finished higher on Thursday with the benchmark BSE sensex rising over 400 points led by gains in metal and banking stocks amid sustained foreign fund inflows. The 30-share BSE index surged 432 points or 0.98 per cent to close at 44,260; while the broader NSE Nifty settled 129 points or 1 per cent higher at 12,987.