Shares in India climbed 556 points, or 0.7%, to 82,611 in early deals on Wednesday, rising for the second straight session, mainly driven by gains in the tech and auto sectors. The BSE Sensex reached its highest level since early October 2024, tracking an upbeat session on Wall Street on Tuesday, supported by easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and a continued decline in oil prices. Small-cap and mid-cap stocks also contributed to the rally, rising by 1.3% and 0.6%, respectively, while the Nifty 50 climbed 0.7% to above 25,200. However, gains were capped following a statement from Fed Chair Jerome Powell before Congress, in which he reiterated that the central bank is not in a rush to lower interest rates. Early top movers included Nestle India (1.9%), HCL Technologies (1.5%), Titan (1.4%), and Infosys (1.3%).