Indian stock indices extended their gains for the sixth straight session on Friday, led by strength in banking and financial stocks coupled with good second-quarter corporate earnings. At 9.45 am, Sensex traded at 59,475.40 points, up 272.50 points or 0.46 per cent, whereas Nifty traded at 17,635.75 points, up 71.80 points or 0.41 per cent. Among the Nifty 50 stocks, 32 advanced and the rest 18 slipped this morning, National Stock Exchange data showed. "IT and banks account for the major chunk of India Inc's profits. After good Q2 results from IT, leading banks are posting very good Q2 numbers indicating that corporate earnings are in line with optimistic expectations. Q2 results of Axis Bank and ITC have beaten expectations. The PSU bank index has the potential to sustain its outperformance," said V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services in a note. Meanwhile, the rupee has retreated from its all-time low of over 83 against the US dollar. For the record, the Indian rupee had been weakening over the past few weeks to hit fresh new all-time lows as the US dollar strengthened against major global currencies.