The BSE benchmark Sensex on Monday closed 33 points higher as investors indulged in selective buying mainly in realty and capital goods sectors ahead of the union budget.

The Sensex rose by 32.93 points, or 0.17 per cent, to close at 19,501.08. The gauge had touched the day’s high of 19,554.48 at the outset.

The index had declined 140 points in last two sessions. Similarly, the broad-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty advanced 10.80 points, or 0.18 per cent to 5,898.20, after touching the day’s high of 5,911.

Brokers said investors remained cautious ahead of the union budget this month-end and reduced their positions to pick fundamentally strong stocks in realty and heavy machinery sectors. They said a weak ending in Asian region and lower opening in Europe capped the gains to some extent.

In 30-BSE index components, 17 stocks gained led by Reliance Industries, Larsen and Toubro, DLF Ltd, State Bank of India, Housing Development Finance Corp and Hero MotoCorp.

The realty sector index gained the most by 2.08 per cent to 2,078.90 followed by capital goods by 1.18 per cent to 9,878.03. Power index rose by 1.03 per cent to 1,835.89 and metal index by 0.49 per cent to 9,952.68.