Sensex breaks 18,000 level, at near 7-month closing high

The Sensex rose for a sixth consecutive session to close at its highest since February 23 on rising hopes for government reforms after the aviation minister signalled the country was moving to allow foreign direct investment into the sector.

Gains in local shares on Wednesday also tracked a risk-on mood globally, after Germany's top court backed the legality of the euro zone bailout funds, although with conditions.

SpiceJet Ltd provisionally gained 7.12 percent, Kingfisher Airlines advanced 8 percent, while Jet Airways rose 5 percent.

The Sensex provisionally rose 0.89 percent to end just above the psychologically key 18,000 points.

The Nifty rose rose 0.76 percent.