The S&P BSE Sensex index rose as much as 179 points to touch 52,279.55 in the first few minutes of trade, and the broader NSE Nifty50 benchmark climbed to as high as 15,728.20, up 58 points from its previous close.
A steady decline in daily additions in Covid-19 infections and opening up of lockdown restrictions supported investors’ sentiment.
Coal India was the top Nifty50 gainer in early deals, up 1.68 per cent. , , Hindalco and UPL were among other blue-chip top performers.
On the other hand, Bajaj Finance was the top laggard, down 3.42 per cent.
, HDFC, HDFC Life and Nestle were among other losers.
Equities in other Asian markets gave up early gains. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was down by 0.29 per cent.
On Wall Street, the three benchmark indices ended higher on Friday led by technology shares. Dow Jones ended 0.52% higher at 34,756.39, while S&P500 climbed 0.88% to 4,229.89. Nasdaq soared 1.47% to 13,814.49.
Meanwhile, in the oil market, crude prices neared $72 a barrel with Brent futures up 6 cents at $71.92 a barrel. US crude added 9 cents to $69.71 per barrel.
