Power Grid Corp, Cipla, ITC, ONGC and UPL were among the major Nifty gainers.
Among sectors, the Nifty Metal and the PSU Bank indices fell 1.8 percent and 1.4 percent, respectively, while the pharma index added 1.4 percent.
On the BSE, the healthcare index added 2 percent and the metal index shed 2 percent.
The index has to hold above 18,000 to continue for an up move towards 18,200 and 18,350 zones.
Technically, the Nifty moved above the prior swing highs and settled above Middle Bollinger Band formation on the daily chart.
Momentum indicators RSI and Stochastic also suggest a positive crossover on the daily timeframe.