In a positive trading session, Indian equity benchmarks experienced substantial gains, with the S&P BSE Sensex climbing 728.99 points or 0.93% to reach 79,249.29. The Nifty 50 index also advanced 196.15 points or 0.82%, closing at 24,561.70. This rally was fueled by optimism surrounding potential peace talks between the United States and Iran, alongside easing crude oil prices. All sectoral indices on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) performed well, particularly in the real estate and banking sectors. The broader market outperformed the frontline indices, with the BSE 150 MidCap Index gaining 0.77% and the BSE 250 SmallCap Index surging 0.98%. Market breadth was strong, with 2,622 shares rising against 1,539 shares that fell. Meanwhile, the NSE's India VIX, which measures market volatility, dropped 6.20% to 17.63. Notable gainers included Trent (up 3.85%) and Bajaj Finance (up 2.70%), while SBI Life Insurance Company saw a decline of 3.87%. Additionally, India's Index of Eight Core Industries reported a 0.4% decline in March 2026 compared to the previous year, indicating challenges in sectors like fertilizers and electricity.