New Delhi, 22 January (H.S.): Indian equity benchmarks opened sharply higher on Thursday, the fourth trading session of the week, buoyed by US President Donald Trump's decision to retract tariff threats against European NATO nations, delivering global investor relief that rippled through Asian markets.

In early trade, the Bombay Stock Exchange's 30-share Sensex index climbed 836.72 points, or 1.02 percent, to trade at 82,746.35, while the National Stock Exchange's 50-share Nifty surged 237.65 points, or 0.94 percent, reaching 25,395.15. The rally contrasted Wednesday's close, when Sensex fell 270.84 points to 81,909.63 and Nifty shed 75 points to 25,157.50, as Japan's Nikkei and South Korea's Kospi also advanced in tandem.

Additionally, the Indian rupee strengthened 12 paise from its all-time low, appreciating to 91.53 against the US dollar, amplifying optimism from Trump's de-escalation announced earlier today.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar