MUMBAI: Indian shares ended in the green for a third straight session as the benchmark rose by 173.93 points to end at over a one-week high of 25,494.37 on gains in energy stocks amid a firming trend in global market ahead of the outcome of a Federal Reserve meeting.
The buying activity gathered momentum as investors felt markets have by now factored in an expected U.S. rate hike.
The Federal Reserve is expected to announce a hike in interest rates, first in nearly a decade, when its two-day policy-setting meet ends later in the day.
The 30-share Sensex resumed higher at 25,402.47 and continued to rise to touch day's high of 25,572.90.
It finally settled 173.93 points or 0.69 pct higher at 25,494.37, its highest closing since December 7. The gauge had gained over 276 points in the past two sessions.
The NSE Nifty after moving between 7,776.60 and 7,715.75, ended 50.00 points or 0.65 pct higher at 7,750.90.
Also read: Sensex increases 123 points in early trade ahead of Federal Reserve decision
ONGC topped the gainers list among BSE stocks by surging 3.90 pct to Rs 226.55 while RIL closed 0.22 pct up at almost three-week high of Rs 978 as global crude rebounded from a six-year low.
Other major gainers were Bharti Airtel, ICICI Bank, NTPC, Lupin, Infosys, BHEL, Hero MotoCorp, TCS, Coal India, Sun Pharma, HDFC, SBI, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank and Bajaj Auto.
Mahindra & Mahindra, however, emerged as the top loser with a fall of 5.44 pct on concern that the company's sales will be hit after the Supreme Court banned registration of diesel-run SUVs and carshaving engine capacity beyond 2,000cc in Delhi and National Capital Region till March 31.
Other losers were ITC, Wipro, HUL, Hindalco, Cipla and Maruti Suzuki ended lower.
Sectorally, the BSE oil and gas index gained the most with a rise 1.71 pct followed by infra 1.51 pct, public sector undertakings (PSUs) 1.33 pct, power 1.30 pct and banking 1.16 pct.
Broader markets too continued to perform well with the mid-cap index rising 0.35 pct and small-cap gaining 0.24 pct.
Overseas, most Asian markets closed higher and European indexes were in a better shape before the much-awaited Federal Reserve interest rate decision.
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