Mumbai, Feb. 17 -- Frontline equity indices closed with moderate gains on Tuesday, extending their winning streak to a second straight session, as buying in index heavyweights lent support to the market. The Nifty settled above the 25,700 mark, aided by strength in PSU banks, IT and FMCG stocks. After opening on a weak note, benchmarks rebounded sharply within the first hour and moved in a narrow range through the first half. Fresh buying interest during mid-session trade lifted sentiment further, pushing the Nifty higher into the close.

The S&P BSE Sensex jumped 173.81 points or 0.21% to 83,450.96. The Nifty 50 index rallied 42.65 points or 0.17% to 25,725.40. Over the past two sessions, both the Sensex and the Nifty have advanced about...