The Indian benchmark stock indices Sensex and Nifty ended higher Thursday propelled by broad-based buying in metal, energy and banking stocks amid positive global cues. The BSE Sensex ended 724.02 points higher at 41,340.16 while the NSE Nifty surged 211.80 points close at 12,120.30. Nifty Bank ended over 2 percent higher.

Broader indices participated in the rally with Nifty Small-cap100 and Midcap100 indices gaining more than 1.7 percent each. A surge in index heavyweights such as Reliance Industries, State Bank of India, IndusInd Bank and Bajaj Finance lifted Nifty above 12,100 levels. In sector-wise, Nifty Metal and Nifty Media rallied the most over 4 percent followed by Nifty PSU Bank, FMCG, Auto and IT. Meanwhile, Nifty Realty ended in the red.

Hindalco Industries, IndusInd Bank, State Bank of India, Tata Steel and BPCL led gains among the Nifty50 pack of stocks while Hero MotoCorp and HDFC Life Insurance were the only index losers. PSU stocks were among the top outperformers with stocks such as SBI, BPCL and HPCL closing with strong gains along with an addition of fresh long positions.

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