Sensex, Nifty open higher for third consecutive day; IT, auto lead gains

Mumbai, March 18 Equity frontline indices opened higher on Wednesday, extending gains for the third consecutive session as markets bounced back from last week’s sharp correction triggered by the West Asia conflict. Sensex opened at 76,367, up 296 points or 0.39 per cent, while the Nifty started about 50 points higher at 23,632, registering a gain of 0.22 per cent. In the broader market, smallcap stocks witnessed the sharpest uptick. The Nifty Smallcap 50 rose 0.51 per cent, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 and Nifty Smallcap 250 gained 0.39 per cent each. Benchmark broader indices also moved higher, with the…