The benchmark domestic equity indices today extended their upward momentum for the sixth consecutive session to settle with gains of over one per cent each. The market sentiment was driven by a rally in the banking, financial services and realty sectors amid renewed optimism over a reversal in foreign fund outflows and bargain buying. The Sensex had crossed 78,000 for the first time since February 7, while the Nifty-50 had surpassed 23,700 for the first time since February 6 in intraday trade today.

The 30-share index at the Bombay Stock Exchange, Sensex, surged 1,079 points, or 1.4 percent to close at 77,984. The National Stock Exchange Nifty-50 jumped 308 points, or 1.32 percent to settle at 23,658. The broader market indices at the BSE also logged gains. The Mid-Cap index advanced over 1.3 percent, and the Small-Cap index added over 1.1 per cent. In the Sensex index, 23 out of 30 companies ended in positive territory. Among the top gainers, NTPC surged over 4.6 percent, Kotak Bank gained over 4.5 percent, and SBI Bank increased more than 3.7 percent.

Conversely, among the top laggards, Titan dropped over 2.6 percent, IndusInd Bank slipped over 2.4 percent, and Zomato lost over 2.1 percent. In Sectoral Indices at the BSE, all 21 sectors logged gains. In the top gainers, Bankex rose over two and a half percent, Utilities added more than 2.4 percent, and Power added over 2.3 percent. Overall market breadth at the BSE was positive as shares of 2,496 companies advanced, 1,640 declined, and 162 remained unchanged. At the National Stock Exchange, 53 companies hit their 52-week high, while 62 hit their 52-week low.