Mumbai, Sept. 18 -- Domestic equity benchmarks ended higher on Wednesday, rising for a third consecutive session after the U.S. Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 0.25% to support its labour market. Investor sentiment was further aided by recent goods and services tax reforms and progress in trade negotiations between India and the U.S.

The Nifty closed firmly above the 25,400 mark, forming a higher top and higher bottom pattern on the daily chart, a signal of underlying strength. Sector-wise, pharma and healthcare stocks saw strong buying interest, while media and PSU bank shares came under pressure.

The S&P BSE Sensex rallied 320.25 points or 0.39% to 83,013.96. The Nifty 50 index added 93.35 points or 0.37% to 25,423.60. In three ...