The benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty began Thursday on a positive note, continuing their upward momentum for the fifth consecutive session. This growth was supported by strong buying in IT stocks, following a rally in US markets and fresh foreign fund inflows.

In early trade, the 30-share BSE benchmark Sensex surged by 242.54 points to 81,198.87, while the NSE Nifty rose by 72.5 points to 24,539.95. Investors were buoyed by gains in IT stocks, with companies like Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, and Tech Mahindra leading the charge. Other notable gainers included Bharti Airtel, UltraTech Cement, Titan, Adani Ports, and Bajaj Finance.