Mumbai, Aug. 3 -- The domestic equity benchmarks traded with major gains in mid-afternoon trade, supported by positive global cues, a sharp decline in crude oil prices, encouraging quarterly earnings and renewed foreign fund inflows. The Nifty traded above 24,550 mark. Metal shares extended gains for four consecutive trading sessions.

At 14:30 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex jumped 638.27 points or 0.82% to 78,732.91. The Nifty 50 index added 207 points or 0.85% to 24,590.60.

The broader market outperformed the frontline indices. The BSE 150 MidCap Index rose 0.92% and the BSE 250 SmallCap Index jumped 1.51%.

The market breadth was strong. On the BSE, 2,901 shares rose and 1,416 shares fell. A total of 207 shares were unch...