New Delhi, Aug. 19 -- Following the positive outcome from the Trump-Putin meeting, GST reforms and optimistic hopes from the Trump-Zelensky meeting, the key benchmark indices of the Indian stock market staged a strong rally of around 1% each, driven by sharp gains in auto, consumption, metal, and realty stocks. Investor sentiment was buoyed by reports of a streamlined Goods and Services Tax (GST) structure, expected to boost spending and fuel consumption. The Nifty opened strongly and climbed to an intraday high of 25,022 mid-session. However, some higher-level profit booking led the index to pare a portion of its gains, eventually closing at 24,882.50, up 251 points or 1.02%.

Sector-wise, Nifty Auto led the charge with a stellar gain of...