Indian equity markets ended higher for the third consecutive session on Thursday, overcoming early volatility, as sentiment improved following the release of the annual Economic Survey.

The 30-share benchmark index ended at 82566.37 up by 221.69 points or by 0.27 % and then NSE Nifty was at 25418.9 up by 76.15 points or by 0.3 %.

Sensex touched intraday high of 82689.96 and intraday low of 81707.94 The NSE Nifty touched intraday high of 25458.15 and intraday low of 25159.8

The top gainers of the BSE Sensex pack were Tata Steel Ltd. (Rs. 202.35,+4.41%), Larsen & Toubro Ltd. (Rs. 3932.45,+3.66%), Axis Bank Ltd. (Rs. 1364.35,+3.32%), Eternal Ltd. (Rs. 275.20,+3.28%), NTPC Ltd. (Rs. 358.10,+2.84%), among others.

The top losers of the BSE Sensex pack were Asian Paints Ltd. (Rs. 2416.70,-3.75%), InterGlobe Aviation Ltd. (Rs. 4622.40,-2.65%), Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. (Rs. 14499.50,-2.54%), Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (Rs. 3385.50,-1.83%), Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. (Rs. 3146.10,-1.68%), among others.

Metal index was at 40941.5 up by 1071.36 points or by 2.69%. National Aluminium Company Ltd. (Rs. 428.95,+5.60%), Tata Steel Ltd. (Rs. 202.35,+4.41%), Vedanta Ltd. (Rs. 766.10,+3.93%), NMDC Ltd. (Rs. 84.70,+3.91%), Jindal Steel Ltd. (Rs. 1155.20,+3.23%),.

CDS index was at 54864.1 down by -854.53 points or by -1.53%. Asian Paints Ltd. (Rs. 2416.70,-3.75%), Berger Paints (India) Ltd. (Rs. 463.50,-3.22%), PG Electroplast Ltd. (Rs. 529.75,-2.01%), Voltas Ltd. (Rs. 1347.15,-1.98%), Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Ltd. (Rs. 221.60,-1.66%),.

The Market breadth, indicating the overall strength of the market, was weak. On BSE out of total shares traded 4603 , shares advanced were 1859 while 2573 shares declined and 171 were unchanged.