Equities showed signs of consolidation after the benchmark Sensex closed at 27,309 on Thursday. Firming global stocks kept the pitch conducive, traders said, with foreign and domestic investors both playing along.
Oil and gas and PSU stocks stayed in the limelight.
The 30-share Sensex settled up 50.96 points, or 0.19 per cent, at 27,308.60. The gauge had climbed 22 points on Wednesday.
The 50-share Nifty too rose 18.10 points, or 0.22 per cent, to close at 8,435.10 after moving between 8,445.15 and 8,404.05.
Yes Bank advanced 0.06 per cent after the company posted a 30.6 per cent rise in net profit at Rs 882.63 crore for the third quarter ended December while Axis Bank fell 0.95 per cent ahead of its quarterly results.
Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net of Rs. 319.14 crore on Wednesday, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges.
Among the 30-share Sensex constituents, 14 stocks turned green while 16 led by Lupin, Sun Pharma, Wipro, HDFC Bank and HDFC, among others, fell, which pulled back the gains.
