The BSE Sensex ended above 38,000 points for the first time on Thursday. It surged nearly 137 points to close at 38,024.37, while the National Stock Exchange Nifty50 gained 20.70 points to close at 11,470.70, a record high.

The indices had gained in early morning trade on Thursday to reach fresh record highs but declined slightly through the day.

The rise in the stock market was the result of continuing foreign inflows, Mint reported.

The top performers on the Sensex were ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, Vedanta Limited, State Bank of India and Power Grid Corporation of India. The stocks that declined the most were Bharti Airtel, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Larsen and Toubro, and IndusInd Bank.

On the Nifty, major gainers were Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, Hindalco Industries, State Bank of India and Vedanta Limited. The biggest losers were Bharti Airtel, Titan Company, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Cipla Limited and Indiabulls Housing Finance Limited.

The rupee was trading at 68.62 against the United States dollar.