Share benchmark indices –Sensex, Nifty– opened strong on Monday morning, taking cues from their Asian shares. Asian stocks rose on Monday, as signals of progress in US– China trade talks supported investor sentiment.

Crude Oil prices rose on Monday as concerns over supplies outweigh fears of a slowing global economy.

Currency & Bond Markets are closed today for the yearly account closing of banks. On Friday, the Indian rupee closed against the US dollar at 69.16 up by 0.25 percent.

At 9.50am, the BSE Sensex was up 277points at 38,949-level, while the Nifty50 index was up 71points at 11,695

Hindalco, Tata Motors, Vedanta, UltraTech Cement and Gail India are among major gainers on the Nifty indices, while losers are IOC, ONGC Coal India and Zee Ent.

Except Nifty media, all other sectoral indices are trading higher led by metal, Auto PSU bank and IT leading gains.

L&T shares gained 2.22 percent after the company bagged a strategic gas export pipeline contract from Kuwait Oil Co.