Equity benchmark Sensex surged 385 points on Thursday following gains in index majors Infosys, ITC and HDFC amid a positive trend overseas.
The 30-share index jumped 384.72 points or 0.68 per cent to end at 57,315.28. Similarly, the NSE Nifty advanced 117.15 points or 0.69 per cent to 17,072.60.
PowerGrid was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, rising around 4 per cent, followed by ITC, Bajaj Finance, Infosys, NTPC and Tech Mahindra.
On the other hand, Bharti Airtel, Sun Pharma, Maruti and UltraTech Cement were among the laggards.
"Indian markets opened in green following positive Asian market peers as investors reacted to studies about reduced risk of hospitalisation and severe disease with Omicron compared to Delta," said Narendra Solanki, Head- Equity Research (Fundamental), Anand Rathi.
During the afternoon session, markets continued their firm trade. Additional support came as rating agency ICRA stated that profitability of sugar, fertiliser and dairy sectors will remain stable in FY22, he noted.
Elsewhere in Asia, bourses in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Seoul ended with gains.
Stock exchanges in Europe were also trading on a positive note in mid-session deals.
Rupee Jumps 30 Paise To 75.24 Against US Dollar
The rupee on Thursday extended its gains and jumped 30 paise to close at 75.24 (provisional) against the US dollar amid a positive trend in domestic equities.
At the interbank forex market, the local unit opened at 75.43 against the greenback and witnessed an intra-day high of 75.22 and a low of 75.44.
On Wednesday, the rupee had appreciated by 5 paise to close at 75.54 against the US dollar.
Meanwhile, the dollar index, which measures the greenback's strength against the basket of six currencies, rose 0.03 per cent to 96.10.
Brent crude futures, the global oil benchmark, fell 0.20 per cent to USD 75.14 per barrel.
Foreign institutional investors remained net sellers in the capital market on Wednesday, as they offloaded shares worth Rs 827.26 crore, as per stock exchange data.
Gold Gains Rs 140; Silver Jumps Rs 290
Gold in the national capital on Thursday gained Rs 140 to Rs 47,268 per 10 gram in line with strong international precious metal prices, according to HDFC Securities.
In the previous trade, the precious metal settled at Rs 47,128 per 10 gram.
Silver also jumped Rs 290 to Rs 61,099 per kg from Rs 60,809 per kg in the previous trade.
In the international market, gold was trading with gains at USD 1,807 per ounce and silver was flat at USD 22.87 per ounce.
"Gold prices traded higher with spot gold prices at COMEX trading at USD 1,807 per ounce on Thursday. Gold prices traded higher helped by weaker dollar and fall in US bond yields ahead of Christmas holiday," HDFC Securities, Senior Analyst (Commodities), Tapan Patel said.