The stock market started the week on a positive note with the benchmark Nifty 50 extending gains for a third consecutive session on October 6, closing above the 25,000 level, led by IT and financials.

The indices started the day on a positive note and saw extended buying to take Nifty 50 past 25,000, settling near the day's high of 25,095.95. At close, the Sensex was up 582.95 points or 0.72 percent at 81,790.12, and the Nifty was up 183.40 points or 0.74 percent at 25,077.65. The BSE midcap index rose 0.7 percent while smallcap index ended marginally lower.

The biggest gainers on the Nifty 50 index were Max Healthcare, Shriram Finance, Apollo Hospitals, TCS, Tech Mahindra, while losers included Tata Steel, Adani Ports, Power Grid Corp, ITC and NTPC.

Among sectors, the IT index rose by 2 percent, healthcare index rose by one percent, private bank index up 1.2 percent, oil & gas index up 0.7 percent and PSU Bank index was up 0.4 percent, while metal, media, FMCG, down 0.3-0.9 percent.

In stock-specific action, Aditya Birla Life shares added nearly 7% after a block trade, HDFC Bank shares added 1% stronger Q2 business update, Max Healthcare and Apollo Hospitals rose 2-6% each after Centre's revision of CGHS rates, and Ceigall India shares added 2.4% on winning LoA from Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company.

Avenue Supermarts shares fell 2.6% despite a growth in Q2 standalone revenue, Dhanlaxmi Bank shares rose 3% after Q2 total business increased, and Lupin's share price fell nearly 2% on receiving four observations from the USFDA. Vodafone Idea's shares fell 4% as after hearing on its plea for AGR relief was adjourned till October 13, and Angel One shares added 2.7% after on September client additions.

Nearly 200 stocks touched their 52-week high on the BSE, including KIOCL, Fortis Healthcare, Nykaa, Poonawalla Fincorp, Bank of Baroda, Muthoot Finance, Canara Bank, Hindustan Copper, Indian Bank, Aditya Birla Capital, Nippon Life India Asset Management, L&T Finance, among others.