The BSE Sensex and the National Stock Exchange Nifty advanced for the fourth day on Thursday led by gains in metal and energy stocks. Sensex jumped more than 536 points to 36,253.85 during the day and closed at 453.46 points at 36,170.41. Nifty 50 rose 154.2 points to 10,883.05 and ended 129.85 points at 10,858.70.

The rupee finished at a three-month high of 69.85, gaining 77 paise over its previous close.

Positive global cues after dovish comments from the United States Federal Chairman Jerome Powell on interest rate hikes also boosted investor sentiment.

Bajaj Auto, Kotak Bank, Mahindra & Mahindra, Vedanta Ltd, and IndusInd Bank were the top gainers on Sensex. Vedanta was the top gainer on both the Sensex and Nifty in early morning trade. The gain in Vedanta stocks came a day after a three-member panel set up by the National Green Tribunal ruled that the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to shut down the Sterlite copper plant in Thoothukudi was “not sustainable”.

Stocks of Bajaj Finance, Kotak Bank, Bajaj Auto, Hindalco, and Mahindra & Mahindra performed well on Nifty.

Stocks which declined the most on the Sensex were Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd, Oil and Natural Gas Corp, National Thermal Power Corporation, Infosys and TCS. On the Nifty, these were HCL Technologies, Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd, Oil and Natural Gas Corp, Tech Mahindra, and National Thermal Power Corporation.

Other Asian markets mostly traded higher, tracking gains on Wall Street. Japan’s Nikkei 225 closed 85.58 points higher and the Australia ASX All Ordinaries over 35 points up. However, the Shanghai index declined by more than 34 points and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng traded lower by more than 231 at 4 pm Indian Standard Time.