<p class="title">Equity benchmark Sensex surged over 300 points in opening trade on Wednesday led by buying in index-heavyweights HDFC twins and positive cues from Asian peers.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-live-updates-all-doctors-and-hospitals-to-light-a-candle-at-9pm-on-april-22-as-protest-says-ima-827545.html"><b>Track live updates on coronavirus here</b></a></p>.<p class="bodytext">After hitting a high of 32,431.20, the 30-share index was trading 285.83 points or 0.89 per cent higher at 32,400.35.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Similarly, the NSE Nifty advanced 78.95 points, or 0.84 per cent, to 9,459.85.</p>.<p class="bodytext">HDFC was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, rallying nearly 5 per cent, followed by Bajaj Finance, HDFC Bank, Tech Mahindra, M&M, Reliance Industries and NTPC.</p>.<p class="bodytext">On the other hand, IndusInd Bank, Axis Bank, Titan, HUL, Asian Paints and Infosys were among the laggards.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In the previous session, the BSE barometer settled 371.44 points or 1.17 per cent higher at 32,114.52, while the Nifty advanced 98.60 points, or 1.06 per cent, to close at 9,380.90.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Foreign portfolio investors were net sellers in the capital market on Tuesday, as they offloaded equity shares worth Rs 122.15 crore, according to provisional exchange data.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Market participants were seen accumulating stocks in anticipation of another stimulus package by the government, traders said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Investor sentiment improved on hopes that gradual lifting of global lockdowns due to <b><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/coronavirus-live-news-covid-19-latest-updates">coronavirus</a> </b>would help start economic recovery, they added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Further, markets are also awaiting cues from US Federal Reserve's monetary policy decision, scheduled to be announced later in the day.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Bourses in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Seoul were trading on a positive note.</p>.<p class="bodytext">On Wall Street, however, key indices ended with losses in overnight trade.</p>.<p class="bodytext">International oil benchmark Brent crude futures rose 3.52 per cent to USD 23.54 per barrel.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Meanwhile, global tally of coronavirus infections has crossed 31 lakh, with over 2.17 lakh deaths.</p>.<p class="bodytext"><b>Also Read: </b><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-state-wise-india-update-total-number-of-confirmed-cases-deaths-on-april-29-831254.html?csjcgsag"><b>Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases</b></a></p>.<p class="bodytext">The death toll due to COVID-19 in India rose to 1,007 and the number of cases climbed to 31,332 in the country, according to the Union health ministry. </p>
<p class="title">Equity benchmark Sensex surged over 300 points in opening trade on Wednesday led by buying in index-heavyweights HDFC twins and positive cues from Asian peers.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-live-updates-all-doctors-and-hospitals-to-light-a-candle-at-9pm-on-april-22-as-protest-says-ima-827545.html"><b>Track live updates on coronavirus here</b></a></p>.<p class="bodytext">After hitting a high of 32,431.20, the 30-share index was trading 285.83 points or 0.89 per cent higher at 32,400.35.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Similarly, the NSE Nifty advanced 78.95 points, or 0.84 per cent, to 9,459.85.</p>.<p class="bodytext">HDFC was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, rallying nearly 5 per cent, followed by Bajaj Finance, HDFC Bank, Tech Mahindra, M&M, Reliance Industries and NTPC.</p>.<p class="bodytext">On the other hand, IndusInd Bank, Axis Bank, Titan, HUL, Asian Paints and Infosys were among the laggards.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In the previous session, the BSE barometer settled 371.44 points or 1.17 per cent higher at 32,114.52, while the Nifty advanced 98.60 points, or 1.06 per cent, to close at 9,380.90.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Foreign portfolio investors were net sellers in the capital market on Tuesday, as they offloaded equity shares worth Rs 122.15 crore, according to provisional exchange data.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Market participants were seen accumulating stocks in anticipation of another stimulus package by the government, traders said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Investor sentiment improved on hopes that gradual lifting of global lockdowns due to <b><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/coronavirus-live-news-covid-19-latest-updates">coronavirus</a> </b>would help start economic recovery, they added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Further, markets are also awaiting cues from US Federal Reserve's monetary policy decision, scheduled to be announced later in the day.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Bourses in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Seoul were trading on a positive note.</p>.<p class="bodytext">On Wall Street, however, key indices ended with losses in overnight trade.</p>.<p class="bodytext">International oil benchmark Brent crude futures rose 3.52 per cent to USD 23.54 per barrel.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Meanwhile, global tally of coronavirus infections has crossed 31 lakh, with over 2.17 lakh deaths.</p>.<p class="bodytext"><b>Also Read: </b><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-state-wise-india-update-total-number-of-confirmed-cases-deaths-on-april-29-831254.html?csjcgsag"><b>Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases</b></a></p>.<p class="bodytext">The death toll due to COVID-19 in India rose to 1,007 and the number of cases climbed to 31,332 in the country, according to the Union health ministry. </p>