The 30-share benchmark index, BSE Sensex rallied for the fourth trading session today by 99.78 points to trade at 18,766.49 during the morning session on the back of continued demand from local operators.

The Nifty of National Stock Exchange (NSE), which opened on a flat note at 5,608.30, surged 23.05 points shortly to trade at 5,630.90.

Today, the Sensex belled the day on a flat note after surging 2.41 points (0.01%) at 18,669.12, whereas the Nifty began the day after declining 3.60 points (0.06%) at 5,604.25.

The buying action was witnessed across scrips from real estate, bankex, auto, consumer goods, PSU, FMCG and power.

The stocks, which topped the gaining charts comprised HDFC Bank, DLF, HUL, SBI, Hero Honda, ICICI Bank and M&M.

But, the top losers in the list comprised Cipla and ACC.

The Sensex hit an intra day peak of 18,797.58 and an intraday low of 18,669.12.

In contrast, the Nifty registered the intra day peak and low at 5,642.05 and 5,508.30 respectively.

The heavyweight scrips, which moved up in the early trade included HDFC Bank, which surged 2.19%, HUL up by 1.68%, DLF surged 1.62%, SBI gained 1.48%, M&M augmented 1.45% and ICICI Bank remained up by 1.42%.

The losers list consisted of Sterlite Industries Ltd, which shed 1.67%, Cipla declined 1.03% and ACC was down by 0.98%.