Benchmark BSE Sensex and Nifty closed marginally higher in volatile trade on August 2 as gains in FMCG, power and energy stocks helped the indices gain for the fifth consecutive day.
The 30-share BSE benchmark ended 20.86 points or 0.04% higher at 58,136.36, with 16 of its constituents ending in the red. During the day it touched a high of 58,328.41 and a low of 57,744.70.
The broader NSE Nifty closed 5.40 points or 0.03% higher at 17,345.45.
Among Sensex constituents, IndusInd Bank, Asian Paints, NTPC, Maruti, Hindustan Unilever, State Bank of India, Mahindra & Mahindra and Power Grid were among the biggest gainers.
However, Tech Mahindra, HDFC, Larsen & Toubro, Tata Steel and HDFC Bank were the biggest laggards.
“Global indicators did not favor the bulls, with most Asian and Western markets trading lower on concerns of escalating geopolitical tensions between the US and China. Additionally, economic data points to a slowdown in demand, with global markets trading lower. Major markets are trading with bearish apprehensions, said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services.
The domestic market, however, has proved resilient due to rising demand for heavyweights and a fall in US treasury yields and strengthening of the Indian rupee on account of FII buying, Mr Nair said.
In Asia, markets in Seoul, Shanghai, Tokyo and Hong Kong closed lower.
European stocks were also trading lower during mid-session deals. On Monday, the US markets were closed in the red mark.
Meanwhile, international oil benchmark Brent crude fell 0.72% to $99.31 a barrel.
Foreign institutional investors remained net buyers in the capital markets as they bought shares worth Rs 2,320.61 crore on Monday, according to exchange data.