India's BSE Sensex closed about 0.7% up at 84,466.5 on Wednesday, a two-week high, extending gains for a third consecutive session. Market sentiment was driven by optimism over a potential end of the US government shutdown, expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts, and hopes for progress in US-India trade talks. Polls predicting a win for the ruling alliance, which includes Prime Minister Modi's party, provided an additional boost. Meanwhile, attention was on domestic inflation data and corporate earnings. Sector-wise, IT stocks led the gains, rising 2%. Major IT companies like Tech Mahindra, TCS, Bharti Airtel, HCL Technologies, and Infosys added between 1% and 3.3%, helped by their large US revenue share and President Trump’s comment that the country “needs skilled workers from abroad”. Asian Paints (+6.8%), however, topped the index after reporting an over 40% jump in quarterly profit. Tata Steel and Tata Motors PV were the biggest laggards, each down over 1%.