Stock markets settle higher in volatile trade; metal, auto shares shine

Mumbai, Mar 18 (PTI) Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty closed marginally higher in a volatile trade on Monday as cautious investors preferred to remain on the sidelines ahead of the US Fed interest rate decision this week and rising crude oil prices.

The 30-share BSE Sensex rose by 104.99 points or 0.14 per cent to settle at 72,748.42. During the day, it gyrated between a high of 72,985.89 and a low of 72,314.16.

The NSE Nifty rose by 32.35 points or 0.15 per cent, to 22,055.70.

From the Sensex basket, Tata Steel jumped over 5 per cent. Mahindra & Mahindra, JSW Steel, Tata Motors, Axis Bank, Sun Pharma, Reliance Industries and Maruti were the other biggest gainers.

Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Titan, Wipro, Hindustan Unilever and Nestle were among the laggards.

Auto, metal, commodities and healthcare shares gained while IT and teck stocks faced losses.

In Asian markets, Seoul, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Hong Kong settled higher.

European markets were quoting in the green. The US markets ended lower on Friday.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) bought equities worth Rs 848.56 crore on Friday, according to exchange data.

Global oil benchmark Brent crude climbed 0.87 per cent to USD 86.08 a barrel.

The 30-share BSE benchmark declined 453.85 points or 0.62 per cent to settle at 72,643.43 on Friday. The NSE Nifty dropped 123.30 points or 0.56 per cent to 22,023.35.