<p>Equity benchmark Sensex jumped over 200 points in early trade on Thursday as index-heavyweights HDFC twins, Reliance Industries and ICICI Bank extended their gains ahead of May derivatives expiry.</p>.<p>After touching a high of 31,899.31 in opening session, the 30-share index was trading 259.92 points or 0.82 per cent higher at 31,865.14.</p>.<p>Similarly, NSE Nifty rose 81.20 points or 0.87 per cent to 9,396.15.</p>.<p>ONGC was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, rising around 3 per cent, followed by Tata Steel, L&T, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, IndusInd Bank and Axis Bank.</p>.<p>On the other hand, M&M, ITC, Infosys, Bajaj Auto, TCS and HCL Tech were among the laggards.</p>.<p>In the previous session, the BSE barometer settled 995.92 points or 3.25 per cent higher at 31,605.22, while the broader Nifty surged 285.90 points or 3.17 per cent to 9,314.95.</p>.<p>On a net basis, foreign portfolio investors sold equities worth Rs 334.74 crore in the capital market on Wednesday, provisional exchange data showed.</p>.<p>Benchmarks are rising on account of short-covering by market participants ahead of May derivatives expiry, analysts said.</p>.<p>However, investor sentiment continues to remain cautious as coronavirus cases has been on a rise in the country, they noted.</p>.<p>The number of coronavirus cases in India climbed to 1,58,333 and the death toll touched 4,531, as per health ministry data.</p>.<p>Globally, the number of cases linked to the disease has crossed 56.93 lakh and the deceased tally stood around 3.55 lakh.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, bourses in Tokyo and Seoul were trading with gains as optimism over the reopening of major economies across the planet continued to push equities higher.</p>.<p>Benchmarks in Shanghai and Hong Kong were in the red tracking rising US-China tensions.</p>.<p>Stock exchanges on Wall Street ended on a positive note in overnight trade.</p>.<p>International oil benchmark Brent crude futures were trading 2.53 per cent lower at USD 33.86 per barrel.</p>
<p>Equity benchmark Sensex jumped over 200 points in early trade on Thursday as index-heavyweights HDFC twins, Reliance Industries and ICICI Bank extended their gains ahead of May derivatives expiry.</p>.<p>After touching a high of 31,899.31 in opening session, the 30-share index was trading 259.92 points or 0.82 per cent higher at 31,865.14.</p>.<p>Similarly, NSE Nifty rose 81.20 points or 0.87 per cent to 9,396.15.</p>.<p>ONGC was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, rising around 3 per cent, followed by Tata Steel, L&T, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, IndusInd Bank and Axis Bank.</p>.<p>On the other hand, M&M, ITC, Infosys, Bajaj Auto, TCS and HCL Tech were among the laggards.</p>.<p>In the previous session, the BSE barometer settled 995.92 points or 3.25 per cent higher at 31,605.22, while the broader Nifty surged 285.90 points or 3.17 per cent to 9,314.95.</p>.<p>On a net basis, foreign portfolio investors sold equities worth Rs 334.74 crore in the capital market on Wednesday, provisional exchange data showed.</p>.<p>Benchmarks are rising on account of short-covering by market participants ahead of May derivatives expiry, analysts said.</p>.<p>However, investor sentiment continues to remain cautious as coronavirus cases has been on a rise in the country, they noted.</p>.<p>The number of coronavirus cases in India climbed to 1,58,333 and the death toll touched 4,531, as per health ministry data.</p>.<p>Globally, the number of cases linked to the disease has crossed 56.93 lakh and the deceased tally stood around 3.55 lakh.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, bourses in Tokyo and Seoul were trading with gains as optimism over the reopening of major economies across the planet continued to push equities higher.</p>.<p>Benchmarks in Shanghai and Hong Kong were in the red tracking rising US-China tensions.</p>.<p>Stock exchanges on Wall Street ended on a positive note in overnight trade.</p>.<p>International oil benchmark Brent crude futures were trading 2.53 per cent lower at USD 33.86 per barrel.</p>