Sensex rises over 500 points on pharma boost, Nifty above 17,600

Benchmark indices opened higher on Monday as pharmaceutical stocks soared in early trade.

Indian shares rose on Monday, as pharma stocks led a broad-based advance and the country's top energy generator NTPC rose on reports of an initial public offering for three of its units.

The NSE Nifty 50 index rose 0.51% to 17,618.20, while the S&P BSE Sensex was up 0.56% at 59,083.03 by 9:30 am.