Amidst rising covid cases, hopes of recovery through vaccine drives and positive global equities took the markets higher for second straight day on Thursday. US President Joe Biden’s decision to waive intellectual property rights on vaccines pumped in global optimism. The BSE Sensex ended at 48,949.76, up 272.21 points or 0.56%. The Nifty was at 14,724.80, up 106.95 points or 0.73%