The broader NSE Nifty gained 42.95 points, or 0.24 percent, to end at 17,754.40.
Mumbai:
The benchmark Sensex, which rose for the third straight time, rose 123 points today on strong buying in banking and financial stocks amid a bearish trend in global stock markets.
Meanwhile, bear closing of short positions supported a late recovery in stocks, helping offset losses, traders said.
However, a weak rupee against key overseas rivals weighed on market sentiment and limited profits, they added.
In a mostly sluggish session, the 30-share BSE Sensex ended up 123.63 points, or 0.21 percent, at 60,348.09. During the session, the index reached a high of 60,402.85 and a low of 59,844.82.
The broader NSE Nifty gained 42.95 points, or 0.24 percent, to end at 17,754.40.
IndusInd Bank was the top gainer on the Sensex chart, rising 4.75 percent, followed by M&M, L&T, NTPC, ITC, Ultra Cement, Tata Steel, Maruti and SBI.
In contrast, Bajaj Finance, Tech Mahindra, Infosys and Sun Pharma were among the losers, falling as much as 2.30 percent.
In the broader market, the BSE average gained 0.61 percent and the small cap index rose 0.28 percent.
Stock markets were closed on Tuesday due to the Holi festival.
Elsewhere in Asia, markets in Shanghai, Seoul and Hong Kong ended with losses, while Tokyo was in the green.
Stock markets in Europe were trading lower in the afternoon session. US markets were significantly lower in the overnight session.
The rupee closed down 13 paise at 82.05 (preliminary) against the US dollar on Wednesday.
The international Brent oil price decreased by 0.16 percent and amounted to 83.16 dollars per barrel.
Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) were net buyers in the capital markets as they bought shares worth Rs 721.37 crore on Monday, stock exchange data showed.
(Except for the headline, this story was not edited by NDTV staff and was published on a syndicated channel.)
Featured image of the day
81% increase in demand for green jobs: report
