The BSE benchmark Sensex added over 313 points to regain the 18,000-level after nine-days during intra-day trade today on heavy buying in blue-chips after a steep fall in crude prices and easing concerns on fuel prices hike.

The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark index climbed 313.14 points to 18,037.63 at 1145 hrs, with most oil company stocks rising.

The National Stock Exchange's broader Nifty index rose by 92 points to 5,414.

The trading sentiment improved after Oil Minister S Jaipal Reddy said his ministry has made no specific proposal on increasing auto and cooking fuel prices for consideration by the EGoM on fuel prices later today, easing concerns of more monetary tightening to curb inflation.

Crude oil prices dropped by 4.6 per cent to USD 91.02 a barrel in New York yesterday.

The largest state-owned oil explorer, Oil and Natural Gas Corp, surged by 3.18 per cent, the most in a month, to Rs 272.90, while Gas Authority of India gained 2.20 per cent to Rs 446.50.