Mumbai, Nov 21 (TIWN) Sensex and Nifty closed nearly 0.50 per cent higher on Tuesday led by index heavyweights. Reliance Industries gained 3.59 per cent, State Bank of India nearly 2 per cent and HDFC Bank by 1 per cent.

A total of 26 of the Nifty 50 stocks ended lower as against 24 which advanced. Sharp gains were seen in telecom and PSU Bank stocks.  The Sensex closed 185.51 points or 0.46 per cent higher at 40,469.70 after flip-flopping between the high of 40,544.13 and a low of 40,290.21.  The Nifty also added 55.60 points or 0.47 per cent to end at 11,940.10.