<h1>Benchmark indices rebound on IT stock surge and foreign institutional inflows; metals and pharma lead gains</h1> Benchmark equity indices rebounded, with the 30-stock index rising about 398 points to 82,172 and the 50-stock index climbing roughly 136 points to 25,182, driven by buying in information-technology stocks and a leading conglomerate after foreign institutional inflows of about Rs 81.3 crore. IT firms gained ahead of quarterly results, while gains were also seen in metals and pharmaceuticals; banking, consumer discretionary and auto stocks lagged. Asian peers were mixed, with Japan and Shanghai higher and Hong Kong lower; European markets traded mixed and U.S. markets closed mostly higher. Brent crude dipped to about USD 66.08 a barrel.