The domestic stock markets rallied handsomely, today, to end just below the 29,000-mark, while the rupee appreciated to a nearly four month high against the dollar. The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange shot up 446 points, or 1.6 percent, to a nearly 17-month high of 28,978. During the session, the Sensex had crossed the 29,000-mark, on across-the- board buying by investors. The Nifty at the National Stock Exchange spurted 133 points, to 8,943. Other Asian markets in Japan, China, Hong Kong, South Korea and Singapore climbed between 0.3 percent and 1.6 percent. At the forex market, the rupee strengthened a hefty 30 paise, to 66.52 against the dollar. Gold gained 50 rupees, to 31,100 rupees per ten grams in Delhi and Brent crude oil futures dropped 28 cents, to 47.35 dollars a barrel.