New Delhi, April 19 -- The Indian stock market saw broad-based and healthy buying activity on Friday, April 17, enabling the benchmark indices-Sensex and Nifty 50-to post gains for the second straight week.

The Sensex advanced 505 points, or 0.65%, to close at 78,493.54, while the Nifty 50 climbed 157 points, also up 0.65%, to settle at 24,353.55. Meanwhile, mid- and small-cap stocks outperformed the broader market.

The Nifty 50 witnessed a strong rebound for the second consecutive week, staging a sharp bounce from the crucial 22,000 mark-an area that coincides with its 2025 low-and rallying decisively to close above 24,300. The index ended the week at 24,350, registering a solid gain of 1.10%, reflecting robust buying interest across t...