Stock market cheers India-New Zealand FTA as Sensex ends 639 points higher

Indian equity markets closed higher with the Sensex rising and the Nifty crossing 24,000, supported by the India-New Zealand FTA and easing global tensions. Broader markets outperformed, while pharma, IT and realty stocks led gains. The Nifty ended 0.81 per cent higher at 24,092.70 and the Sensex settled 0.83 per cent higher at 77,303.63. The rupee traded marginally stronger near 94.16.