A benchmark index for Indian equities crept up in afternoon trade Thursday to rule at 76 points higher, having been range-bound in the morning session.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,194.78 points, was at 18,255.97 points, 76.33 points or 0.42 percent up from its previous close at 18,179.64 points.
At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was ruling 0.41 percent in the green at 5,485 points.
Broader markets indices were also trading higher, with the BSE midcap 0.58 percent up and the BSE smallcap index 0.72 percent higher.
FMCG, banking and auto scrips saw some buying.
The market breadth was tilted towards the positive with 1,572 scrips advancing, compared to 1,205 stocks declining and 115 remaining unchanged.
Other major Asian bourses were also ruling moderately high, tracking Wednesday’s gains at Wall Street.
The Japanese Nikkei was ruling 0.69 percent up at 8,906.48 points.
The Chinese Shanghai Composite index was trading 0.05 percent up at 2,597.93 points, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was down 0.07 percent at 20,619.79 points.