MUMBAI: Short covering, coupled with a strong rupee, buoyed the Indian equities markets on Thursday.
However, investors were cautious ahead of the Bank of England's (BoE) interest rate decision later in the day, and the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) monetary policy review slated for next week.
Besides, gains were capped on the back of negative global cues and weak automobile sales results.
Accordingly, the key indices provisionally closed on a flat-to-positive note, even as healthy buying was witnessed in consumer durables, healthcare and IT stocks.
The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was up by 17.85 points or 0.20 pct, to 8,734.25 points.
The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 28,167.83 points, traded at 28,226.61 points (at 3.30 p.m.) -- up 84.97 points or 0.30 pct, from the previous close at 28,141.64 points.
The Sensex touched a high of 28,299.92 points and a low of 28,070.81 points during the intra-day trade.
The BSE market breadth was tilted in favour of the bulls -- with 1,579 advances and 1,221 declines.
On Wednesday, positive budgetary announcements lifted the benchmark indices to hit their three-month closing highs.
The NSE Nifty surged by 155 points or 1.81 pct, to 8,716.30 points, while the BSE Sensex augmented by 485.68 points or 1.76 pct, to 28,141.64 points.
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