Mumbai, Sept. 9 -- The key equity barometers ended higher for a second straight session as a buyback proposal from Infosys ignited a rally in IT names, while consumer discretionary stocks gained on optimism around broad GST rate cuts. Sentiment was also aided by rising expectations of a U.S. Federal Reserve rate cut later this month, helping the Nifty finish above 24,850 despite the weekly F&O expiry today. Investors now turn to inflation prints due later this week for cues on the policy path and near-term market direction.

The S&P BSE Sensex added 314.02 points or 0.39% to 81,101.32. The Nifty 50 index rose 95.45 points or 0.39% to 24,868.60.

Infosys (up 4.85%), Adani Ports & SEZ (up 2.54%) and TCS (up 1.09%) supported gains in Nifty t...