The benchmark equity indices closed the final trading session of the week on a positive note, reflecting investor optimism. Both the Sensex and Nifty 50 registered gains, supported by strong performances from key stocks.

Equity benchmarks rise in afternoon trade, Sensex at 78,788.13, Nifty at 23,846.35, auto and banking stocks lead gains.

January typically tends to be a slower month according to the past decade’s seasonality, with Nifty often closing in the red 70 per cent of the time.