After a better start, the Sensex shot up by 209.98 points at 9,300.86 with index-linked stocks recording handsome gains.

The upsurge was supported by index-linked stocks in the oil and gas, bank, metal and consumer durables segments.

The key index moved between 9,321.38 and 9,158.59 points during the day. In the 30 Sensex stocks, 28 scrips closed with small to handsome gains.

The 50-share National Stock Exchange index Nifty rose by 63.05 points at 2,843.10, after touching the day's high of 2,852.50 and a low of 2,778.65 points.

Steps would be aimed at labour-intensive industries, where the economy may grow by about 7 per cent in the year ended March 31, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is also holding the finance portfolio, said today.