The benchmark BSE Sensex turned choppy on tepid cues from overseas market, despite positive macroeconomic data and appreciating rupee.
The 30-share barometer rose 44.58 points, or 0.13 %, to 33,962.52 in early session. However, a weak trend in other Asian markets following negative lead from Wall Street, restricted the gains.
The gauge rallied 610.80 points in the previous session, logging its biggest single-day gain in two years.
Sectoral indices led by consumer durables, capital goods, realty, bankex, oil & gas, PSU, FMCG, healthcare and auto were trading in the green, rising up to 0.66 %.
The NSE index Nifty climbed 19.65 points, or 0.18 %, to 10,441.05.
Major gainers were Wipro, Bharti Airtel, SBI, Sun Pharma, rising up to 2.15 %. While, TCS, Coal India and NTPC were the top losers.
Shares of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) cracked nearly 5 % after Tata Sons yesterday sold a 1.48 % stake in its flagship IT services firm to raise ₹8,127 crore ($ 1.25 billion).
Brokers said buying picked up on select counters on positive economic data. Industrial production expanded to 7.5 % in January while retail inflation eased to 4.4 % in February, raising industry clamour for a rate cut by the RBI next month to maintain growth momentum.
On a net basis, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth ₹ 374.65 crore while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) sold shares worth ₹ 464.59 crore , provisional data showed.
Overseas, most Asian stocks were trading lower following a fall in US stocks as focus turned to a US inflation report due today for clues on the pace of US Fed policy tightening.
In Asia, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was down 0.16 %, Japan’s Nikkei fell 0.16 % and China’s Shanghai Composite index slipped 0.17 % in early trade.
The US Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 0.62 % lower in yesterday’s trade.
