BSE Sensex Today: The Sensex rose as much as 245.65 points to touch 40,297.52 on the upsideDomestic stock markets started Thursday's session on a positive note amid mild gains in Asian peers.

The S-P BSE Sensex index rose as much as 245.65 points touch 40,297.52 in the first few minutes of trade, and the broader NSE Nifty benchmark climbed to as high as 11,914.90, up 70.8 points from the previous close.

Gains in banking and information technology stocks pushed the markets higher.

Analysts expected some volatility ahead of the expiration of monthly derivatives (futures - options) contracts due at the end of the session.

(Track Share Markets Here)Equities in other Asian markets rose on Thursday and US stock futures edged higher after the US central bank cut interest rates as expected to keep economic expansion on track. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was last seen up 0.2 per cent while Japan's Nikkei stock index rose 0.41 per cent, but Australian shares fell 0.24 per cent. Meanwhile, the Sensex had ended 220.03 points - or 0.55 per cent - higher at 40,051.87 and the Nifty settled at 11,844.10, up 57.25 points (0.49 per cent) from its previous close on Wednesday, continuing their upmove for a fourth consecutive session. Sensex Hits Fresh All-Time High Above 40,300The Sensex jumped as much as 293.12 points to touch a record high of 40,344.99, surpassing its earlier peak of 40,312.07 clocked on June 4.Sensex Less Than 15 Points Shy Of All-Time HighAt the day's strongest level, the S-P BSE Sensex index touched 40,297.52 - up 245.65 points from its previous close.

That brought the benchmark index within 15 points of an all-time high of 40,312.07 registered on June 4.At the intraday high, the broader NSE Nifty index, however, was 188.15 points away from its all-time high of 12,103.05.Indian Oil Shares Rise 1% Ahead of Q2 Financial ResultsIndian Oil shares rose as much as 1.05 per cent to Rs 148.65 apiece on the BSE, ahead of the earnings announcement by the country's largest fuel retailer.

AT 10:29 am, IOC shares traded 0.44 per cent higher at Rs 147.75 apiece, underperforming the benchmark Sensex index which was up 0.57 per cent.

Thirty five stocks on the Nifty 50 index moved in the positive territory, led by Zee Entertainment, SBI, Infosys and Grasim - up between 1.23 per cent and 4.49 per cent.  Gains Across Sectors Push Markets HigherAll of the 11 sectoral indices on the National Stock Exchange moved higher in the first hour of trade.

The Nifty PSU Bank index was the top gainer in percentage terms, last seen trading up 2.51 per cent.  IndexChangeNifty PSU Bank+2.51%Nifty Realty+1.90%Nifty Media+1.49%Nifty Bank+0.67%Nifty Financial Service+0.60%Nifty Fast Moving Consumer Goods+0.60%Nifty IT+0.54%Nifty Metal+0.34%Nifty Pharma+0.33%Nifty Private Bank+0.32%Nifty Auto+0.26%Sensex Up 199 Points, Nifty At 11,906At 9:42 am, the Sensex traded 199.45 points - or 0.50 per cent - higher at 40,251.32 while the Nifty was up 62.20 points - or 0.53 per cent - at 11,906.30.

Top percentage gainers on the 50-scrip index at the time were Zee Entertainment, SBI, Infosys, Sun Pharma and Wipro, trading between 1.16 per cent and 3.21 per cent higher.Infosys, HDFC Bank, SBI and HDFC were the top contributors to the gain in Sensex, together accounting for a rise of 156.83 points in the index.Sensex Opens 160 Points Higher At 40,212, Nifty Starts Day At 11,890The S-P BSE Sensex index opened 160.12 points higher at 40,211.99 and the Nifty started the session at 11,890.45, up 46.35 points from the previous close. Top percentage gainers on the 50-scrip index were Infosys, State Bank of India (SBI), Zee Entertainment, Grasim and Sun pharma, trading between 0.90 per cent and 2.04 per cent higher, in the first few minutes of trade.Sensex Up Over 150 Points, Nifty Near 11,900 In Pre-Open MarketThe S-P BSE Sensex index rose as much as 164.26 points - or 0.41 per cent - to touch 40,216.13 in the pre-opening session.

At 9:09 am, the Sensex traded 160.12 points -or 0.40 per cent - higher at 40,211.99 while the Nifty was up 46.35 points - or 0.39 per cent - at 11,890.45.Sensex Has Added More Than 1,000 Points In Past Four SessionsThe Sensex has risen 1,031.48 points - or 2.64 per cent - in past four consecutive sessions, and the broader Nifty added 261.5 points, marking a rise of 2.26 per cent. Indian Oil Q2 Earnings In FocusIndian Oil Corporation shares will be in focus during Thursday's session.

The country's largest fuel retailer is due to report its earnings for the quarter ended September 30 during the day.For the first quarter of current financial year, Indian Oil Corporation had reported a 47.36 per cent drop in net profit to Rs.

3,596.11 crore over revenue of Rs 1,50,766.57 crore.SGX Nifty Futures Up 40 Points At 11,891At 8:50 am, the SGX Nifty futures were up 40.00 points - or 0.34 per cent - at 11,890.50. On Wednesday, the S-P BSE Sensex index had ended 220.03 points - or 0.55 per cent - higher at 40,051.87 and the broader NSE Nifty benchmark settled at 11,844.10, up 57.25 points - 0.49 per cent - from its previous close. Global Central Banks Reluctant To Ease Monetary Policy AggressivelyOptimism that Washington and Beijing will sign a preliminary agreement to call a truce to their 16-month trade war was also a factor behind the Fed's decision to signal that further rate cuts are on hold, highlighting the importance of trade talks to global monetary policy.The US-China trade war and Britain's divorce from the European Union have increased uncertainty, but central banks are somewhat reluctant to ease policy aggressively because interest rates are already very low in many major economies. US Central Bank Cuts Key Interest RatesThe US central bank lowered its policy rate to 1.50-1.75 per cent, but dropped a previous reference in its statement to "act as appropriate" to sustain the economic expansion.Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell signalled additional rate cuts are unlikely because there are several areas of strength in the US economy.Asian Shares Register Mild Gains After US Interest Rate CutEquities in other Asian markets rose on Thursday and US stock futures edged higher after the US central bank cut interest rates as expected to keep economic expansion on track. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was last seen up 0.2 per cent while Japan's Nikkei stock index rose 0.41 per cent, but Australian shares fell 0.24 per cent. SGX Nifty Futures Indicate Higher Opening For Domestic MarketsDomestic stock markets are likely to open higher, with the Singapore Exchange (SGX) Nifty futures rising as much as 50.5 points to touch 11,901.00 on the upside in early trade.

At 8:32 am, the SGX Nifty futures were up 37.50 points - or 0.32 per cent - at 11,888.00. The SGX Nifty futures are an early indicator of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) Nifty index in India.