Indian markets ended the session on Wednesday marginally in the green as investors remained cautious ahead of the outcome of the US Federal Reserve policy meeting that may clarify the outlook for US stimulus measures.
The 30-share BSE index Sensex was up 22.42 points (0.12 per cent) at 19,245.70 and the 50-share NSE index Nifty was up 8.65 points (0.15 per cent) at 5,822.25.
On the BSE, consumer durables and metal stocks witnessed heavy buying and were up 1.96 per cent and 1.28 per cent, respectively, followed by realty 0.58 per cent and oil & gas 0.56 per cent.
On the other hand, auto, power, PSU and healthcare indices succumbed to selling pressure and were down by 0.67 per cent, 0.59 per cent, 0.35 per cent and 0.29 per cent, respectively.
Among 30-share Sensex, Bharti Airtel, Hindalco, Sterlite, Jindal Steel and Tata Steel were the top five gainers, while the top five losers were Tata Motors, NTPC, Dr Reddy's, TCS and Hero MotoCorp.
Except Nikkei, all other Asian indices were down. Japanese stocks outperformed other Asian stocks rose as Japanese exporters rallied after the nation’s shipments increased more than analysts estimated.
The yen strengthened for the first time in three days against the dollar and European stocks were little changed.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 237.94 points or 1.83 per cent to 13,245.22, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 136.92 points or 0.65 per cent to 21,088.96.
Stoxx 50 was up 7.27 points or 0.27 per cent at 2,708.20, FTSE 100 was up 3.4 points or 0.05 per cent at 6,377.61 and DAX rose 43.64 points or 0.53 per cent to 8,273.15.