Extending gains for the third session, the BSE benchmark Sensex on Thursday rose over 50 points tracking sustained buying by domestic institutional investors and positive global cues.

The 30-share BSE index Sensex closed higher by 52.79 points or 0.15 per cent at 36,374.08 and the 50-share NSE index Nifty ended up 14.90 points or 0.14 per cent at 10,905.20.

The Sensex hit an intraday high of  36,468.42 and a low of 36,170.80. Similarly, the Nifty touched an intraday high of 10,930.65 and a low of 10,844.65. The market breadth was negative as 1,049 shares advanced, against a decline of 1,521 shares, while 174 shares were unchanged.

At close, the biggest gainers in the Sensex pack were GAIL, BPCL Infratel, Axis Bank and HCL Tech, rising up to 2.23 per cent.

While, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Yes Bank, Zee, Eicher Motors and SBI were the top losers, shedding up to 6.61 per cent.

According to Viral Berawala, CIO, Essel Mutual Fund, there would be stock-specific movement in next few days based on results, as global market participants would wait for the interim budget before allocating fresh flows to India.

Index heavyweights RIL and HUL are scheduled to release their quarterly earnings later in the day.

Despite some volatility, the market demonstrated strength this week as recognition of upcoming stimulus — fiscal and monetary — likely lies ahead, said Sunil Sharma, Chief Investment Officer, Sanctum Wealth Management.

Asian markets close flat

Asian equity benchmark is little changed for a second day as markets across the region moved less than 0.8 per cent. Japans Topix rose 0.4 percent, while gauges of Shanghai and Hong Kong shares ended up down 0.4 per cent and 0.5 per cent, respectively.

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