The benchmark indices ended nearly 0.74 per cent higher on Thursday led by buying in IT, Auto and Metal stocks. In the broader markets, the BSE MidCap and SmallCap indices closed up to 0.9 per cent higher.

Among sectors, the Nifty IT index advanced nearly 2per cent, followed by the Nifty Auto index (1.6 per cent). On the downside, the Nifty Bank index fell 0.2 per cent.

On the global front, European stocks were broadly higher on Thursday as investors cheered strong earnings reports and provisional survey data from S&P Global showing that Eurozone private sector shrank at the slowest pace in eight months in February.

Whereas Oil prices eked out modest gains on Thursday as concerns about supply offset industry data showing another hefty build in U.S. inventories. Benchmark Brent crude futures rose 0.4 percent to $83.36 a barrel, while WTI crude futures were up 0.4 percent at $78.23.

Meanwhile, Gold prices were seeing modest gains on Thursday while the dollar dipped as Nvidia's strong earnings drove optimism across asset classes. Spot gold edged up 0.2 percent to $2,029.95 per ounce while U.S. gold futures were up 0.3 percent at $2,040.05.

On the corporate front, HCL Technologies, ITC, Eicher Motors, Bajaj Auto and Coal India all rose around 3 percent in the Nifty pack while Hindustan Unilever, Kotak Mahindra Bank, BPCL, HDFC Bank and IndusInd Bank dropped 1-2 percent.

The 30-share benchmark index closed trading at 73158.24 up by 535.15 points or by 0.74 % and then NSE Nifty was at 22217.45 up by 162.4 points or by 0.74 %.

During the positive day’s trade, Sensex touched intraday high of 73256.39 and intraday low of 72081.36 The NSE Nifty touched intraday high of 22252.5 and intraday low of 21875.25.

The top gainers of the BSE Sensex pack were HCL Technologies Ltd. (Rs. 1686.75,+3.12%), ITC Ltd. (Rs. 414.30,+2.73%), Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (Rs. 1908.60,+2.61%), Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. (Rs. 4086.45,+2.44%), Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (Rs. 1327.30,+2.32%), among others.

The top losers of the BSE Sensex pack were IndusInd Bank Ltd. (Rs. 1489.15,-1.87%), HDFC Bank Ltd. (Rs. 1419.80,-1.28%), Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. (Rs. 1726.50,-1.11%), State Bank of India (Rs. 765.95,-0.73%), Hindustan Unilever Ltd. (Rs. 2391.40,-0.61%), among others.

Among sectors, Auto index was at 47426.83 up by 861.89 points or by 1.85%. Cummins India Ltd. (Rs. 2766.05,+6.07%), Bajaj Auto Ltd. (Rs. 8505.30,+3.36%), Eicher Motors Ltd. (Rs. 3954.15,+3.12%), Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (Rs. 1908.60,+2.61%), Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. (Rs. 11675.50,+1.79%),.

On the flip side, Bankex index was at 53351.28 down by -22.2 points or by -0.04%. IndusInd Bank Ltd. (Rs. 1489.15,-1.87%), HDFC Bank Ltd. (Rs. 1419.80,-1.28%), Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. (Rs. 1726.50,-1.11%), State Bank of India (Rs. 765.95,-0.73%), Federal Bank Ltd. (Rs. 153.60,-0.10%),.

The Market breadth, indicating the overall strength of the market, was weak. On BSE out of total shares traded 4178 , shares advanced were 2195 while 1844 shares declined and 139 were unchanged.