India's benchmark share market index finished over one percent higher Thursday, extending gains to the second consecutive session, with investors' sentiment getting a boost from robust corporate earnings numbers.

Dealers said the stock market opened for the day on a positive note with investors picking up shares of new and select old economy companies at attractively lower levels.

The market index gained strength in intra-day trade following unveiling of impressive corporate financial numbers for the October-December quarter by companies like Bharti Tele-Ventures and public sector Steel Authority of India.

The stock market barometer 30-share Bombay Stock Exchange sensitive index or Sensex closed at 6,239.43, representing a gain of 76.45 points or 1.24 percent over its previous session's close.

"The stock market extended its gains today mainly on the back of good quarterly financial numbers posted by select new and old economy companies," said Neeraj Deewan, an equity market analyst with Quantum Securities.

"The overall market sentiment, however, continues to be very uncertain and investors are waiting for the general budget to provide some direction for sustained rally," Deewan told.

The budget for fiscal 2005-06 is likely to be presented to parliament towards the end of next month.

In the technology sector, shares of telecom behemoth Bharti Tele-Ventures gained 3.2 percent to touch Rs.209.75 after the company announced improved quarterly financial results.

New Delhi-based Bharti said Thursday its profits for the first nine months of the current fiscal surged 70 percent to top Rs.10 billion ($220 million), while its phone subscriber base crossed the 10-million mark.

Announcing the results for the quarter ended Dec 31, 2004, the telecom major said its net profit stood at Rs.10.02 billion for the first nine months of the current fiscal on total revenues of Rs.51.17 billion.

Bangalore-based marquee software firm Wipro rose 2.7 percent to Rs.674.50 and Infosys Technologies, India's second largest software exporter, closed with a gain of 2.1 percent at Rs.1,951.45.

In the old economy sector, shares of Maruti Udyog, the country's largest carmaker, gained 3.4 percent to touch Rs.435.90 as the government deferred a proposal to divest its remaining stake in the company.

Shares of Mahindra and Mahindra rose nearly three percent to Rs.507.90, Hero Honda Motors, the largest motorcycle maker, was up 2.7 percent at Rs.537.30 and Tata Motors closed with a gain of 0.5 percent at Rs.480.80.

State-run Steel Authority of India (SAIL) advanced 0.5 percent to Rs.59.10 after the company's October-December quarterly financial result exceeded street expectations.

SAIL said Thursday its net profit in the October-December quarter more than doubled to Rs.15.14 billion, up from Rs.7.38 billion logged in the same quarter of fiscal 2003-04.