Despite a volatile session, the S&P BSE Sensex settled higher by 253 points at 73,917 levels, while the Nifty50 closed at 22,466 with a 0.28 per cent gain. Top gainers on the Sensex were M&M, JSW Steel, Ultratech Cement, Kotak Bank, ITC, Maruti Suzuki, NTPC, and Tata Motors, while TCS, HUL, HCL Tech, Nestle India, Wipro, Bajaj Finserv, and Infosys were among the top losers. BSE MidCap and SmallCap indices both closed over 1 per cent higher, while Nifty Auto and Nifty Realty indices also recorded gains. Nifty IT index, however, fell by 0.8 per cent. According to Dr. V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services, the equity markets may continue to remain range-bound for the near future.