THE BSE Sensex vaulted above the 55,000-mark for the first time on Friday as investors remained in risk-on mode amid favourable macroeconomic data and growth optimism.

Index heavyweights TCS, RIL, Infosys and HDFC twins saw robust buying, while pharma stocks slipped.

Rallying for the second straight session, the 30-share Sensex jumped 593.31 points or 1.08 per cent to its new all-time high of 55,437.29. It touched an intra-day record of 55,487.79. Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty breached the 16,500 level, advancing 164.70 points or 1.01 per cent to its fresh closing peak of 16,529.10. It surged to a record of 16,543.60 during the day.

TCS was the top performer among the Sensex components, spurting 3.22%, followed by L&T, Bharti Airtel, HCL Tech, Tata Steel, Bajaj Auto, Reliance Industries and HDFC Bank. PowerGrid, IndusInd Bank, Dr Reddy’s, Bajaj Finance, NTPC and Tech Mahindra were among the laggards, skidding up to 1.28 per cent.