Sensex rises over 200 pts, Nifty above 18,500; Hero MotoCorp, Hindalco top gainers

Indian shares rose on Friday as strong monthly sales boosted auto stocks, while investor appetite for risky assets improved on bets that the U.S. Federal Reserve could pause its interest rates hikes. The blue-chip Nifty 50 index was up 0.43% at 18,566.9 as of 9:20 a.m. IST, while the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex advanced 0.41% to 62,684.71. Two-wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp was the top gainer on the Nifty 50 so far, rising 3.7% after it reported strong domestic sales in May.