Mumbai: Indian equity markets ended in positive territory on Thursday, supported by gains in banking, healthcare and select PSU stocks. The benchmark BSE Sensex climbed 254 points to settle at 77,409, while the NSE Nifty50 advanced over 82 points to close at 24,168.

The positive close came despite cautious global sentiment following signals from the US Federal Reserve that interest rates could remain elevated for a longer period.

Banking, PSU Stocks Lead Gains

Among the top performers in the 30-share Sensex pack were IndiGo, Trent, NTPC, Bharat Electronics and HDFC Bank. Strong buying in these counters helped lift the broader market despite weakness in a few heavyweight stocks.

On the losing side, Reliance Industries, Titan, Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Mahindra & Mahindra and Kotak Mahindra Bank were among the major laggards.

Broader Markets Outperform

The broader market also witnessed buying interest, with the Nifty Smallcap 250 index gaining 0.67 per cent. Market volatility eased during the session, indicating improving investor confidence.

Sector-wise, healthcare stocks emerged as key gainers, with the Nifty500 Healthcare index rising 1.02 per cent. In contrast, information technology stocks remained under pressure, dragging the Nifty IT index down by 1.19 per cent.

Oil Prices Offer Relief

Earlier in the day, markets had opened on a cautious note. The Sensex slipped nearly 80 points at the opening bell, while the Nifty briefly tested the 24,000 mark amid mixed global cues.

However, sentiment improved as crude oil prices fell below $80 per barrel following the formal signing of the US-Iran peace agreement. Lower crude prices are generally viewed positively for India, which imports a significant portion of its energy requirements.

Fed Outlook Keeps Investors Cautious

Despite support from easing oil prices, investors remained watchful after the US Federal Reserve indicated that interest rates may stay higher for longer than previously expected.

The cautious outlook had also weighed on pre-open trade, where benchmark indices traded with a slight negative bias despite the supportive backdrop of softer crude prices.

Market participants will now monitor global economic cues, oil price movements and upcoming domestic economic data for further direction.