New Delhi, March 23 -- On March 20, the benchmark stock indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, relinquished much of their intra-day gains to close nearly half a percent higher on Friday, driven by strong purchases in PSU bank, IT, and metal sectors amid worries about a possible rise in fuel-related inflation.

In a session marked by volatility, the 30-share BSE Sensex rose by 325.72 points or 0.44% to finish at 74,532.96. Throughout the day, it surged by 1,079.15 points, or 1.45%, reaching 75,286.39.

The Nifty 50 increased by 112.35 points, or 0.49%, to conclude at 23,114.50. During the day, it advanced by 343 points, or 1.49%, peaking at 23,345.15. On the weekly overview, the BSE benchmark decreased by 30.96 points or 0.04%, while the Nifty 50 f...