MUMBAI: Advancing for the third straight session, the benchmark Sensex rose 38.18 points to end at two-week high of 25,918.95 on gains in FMCG, IT, Healthcare and Oil&Gas stocks ignoring an uptick in retail inflation and slowing industrial growth.

The Sensex, which commenced the day on a weak note at 25,861.47, slipped further to touch the day's low of 25,791.79 after investors focussed on weak economic data.

However, late buying by overseas funds helped the 30-share index rebound and close with a gain of 38.18 points, or 0.15 percent, at 25,918.95.

This is the best closing since July 30 when Sensex had closed at 26,087.42.

The gauge has now gained 590 points in three sessions.

"Intra-day volatility remained high as indecision and profit booking continued at higher levels. Despite overall negative bias, buying was seen in IT and Healthcare stocks on a weaker rupee. Positive Asian cues further strengthened sentiment," said Nidhi Saraswat, Senior Research Analyst, Bonanza Portfolio Ltd.

Country's industrial production slowed to 3.4 percent in June as against 5 percent in May, while retail inflation rose to 7.96 percent in July from 7.46 percent in June.

The broad-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty rose 12.50 points, or 0.16 percent, to 7,739.55 after shuttling between 7,695.70 and 7,757.10 on alternate bouts of selling and buying by participants.

In the 30-share Sensex pack, 14 stocks gained while 16 ended with losses.

Stocks of Sun Pharma gained 2.09 percent after the company posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 1,390.51 crore for the first quarter ended June 30.

Other major gainers were HDFC, ITC, Infosys, Reliance Industries, Sesa Sterlite, TCS, Wipro and Bajaj Auto.

However, shares of state-run BHEL plunged 6.57 percent after company's net profit shrunk to Rs 193.50 crore for the quarter ended June 30, 2014.

Sectorally, the FMCG sector gained the most by rising 2.22 percent, followed by IT index (0.76 percent), Healthcare index (0.75 percent) and Oil and Gas index (0.17 percent).