Equity benchmark Sensex rose 85 points on Thursday, tracking gains in index majors Infosys, Tata Steel and L&T amid a largely negative trend in global markets.
After a choppy session, the 30-share index ended 85.26 points or 0.14 per cent higher at 61,235.30. Similarly, the NSE Nifty advanced 45.45 points or 0.25 per cent to 18,257.80.
Tata Steel was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, jumping over 6 per cent, followed by Sun Pharma, L&T, M&M, PowerGrid, Bajaj Finserv, TCS and Infosys.
On the other hand, Wipro, Asian Paints, HDFC Bank, IndusInd Bank and HCL Tech were among the laggards.
"Indian markets opened flat to marginally positive despite negative Asian market peers after higher inflation reading from the US and China's bank lending declined more than expected in December.
"During the afternoon session markets managed to trade in green albeit, with a narrow range," said Narendra Solanki, Head- Equity Research (Fundamental), Anand Rathi Shares & Stock Brokers.
Elsewhere in Asia, bourses in Shanghai, Tokyo and Seoul ended with losses, while Hong Kong closed in the green.
Stock exchanges in Europe were trading on a negative note in mid-session deals.
Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) were net sellers in the capital market, as they sold shares worth Rs 1,001.57 crore on Wednesday, according to stock exchange data.
Rupee Inches Higher By 3 Paise To Close At 73.90 Against US Dollar
The rupee inched higher by 3 paise to close at 73.90 (provisional) against the US dollar on Thursday, as muted domestic equities and weak macroeconomic data weighed on investor sentiments.
Forex traders said elevated crude oil prices also affected the local unit.
At the interbank forex market, the rupee opened at 73.91 against the greenback and witnessed an intra-day high of 73.84 and a low of 73.97. It finally settled at 73.90, a rise of 3 paise over its previous close.
In the previous session, the rupee had settled almost flat at 73.93 against the US dollar.
On the domestic equity market front, the BSE Sensex ended 85.26 points or 0.14 per cent higher at 61,235.30, while the broader NSE Nifty advanced 45.45 points or 0.25 per cent to 18,257.80.
Meanwhile, the dollar index, which measures the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, fell 0.12 per cent to 94.80.
Brent crude futures, the global oil benchmark, was trading 0.26 per cent higher at USD 84.89 per barrel.
Foreign institutional investors were net sellers in the capital market on Wednesday, as they offloaded shares worth Rs 1,001.57 crore, as per stock exchange data.
On the domestic macroeconomic front, the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) remained muted for the third straight month in November 2021, while retail inflation rose to a six-month high of 5.59 per cent in December.
Gold Climbs Rs 119; Silver Jumps Rs 745
Gold price in the national capital on Thursday jumped Rs 119 to Rs 46,919 per 10 grams, reflecting a rally in international precious metal prices, according to HDFC Securities.
In the previous trade, the precious metal settled at Rs 46,800 per 10 gram.
Silver also moved up by Rs 745 to Rs 60,777 per kg from Rs 60,032 per kg in the previous trade.
In the international market, gold was trading with gains at USD 1,827 per ounce and silver was flat at USD 23.15 per ounce.
"Gold prices traded firm with spot gold prices at COMEX trading at USD 1,827 per ounce on Thursday," HDFC Securities Senior Analyst (Commodities) Tapan Patel said.