Sensex, Nifty turn cautious ahead of key macro data

The BSE benchmark Sensex gained for the sixth straight session, reclaiming the crucial 34,000 level briefly in early today, ahead of IIP and inflation data scheduled to be released later in the day.

The government will issue Index of Industrial Production (IIP) numbers for February and inflation data for March based on consumer price index (CPI) today.

Caution ahead of key macroeconomic numbers and mixed sentiment in other Asian markets is likely to sway investor mood today, brokers said.

The BSE 30-share Sensex was trading 62.38 points, or 0.18 percent, higher at 34,002.82. In the previous five days, the index had gained 921.37 points.

The broader NSE Nifty rose 3.55 points, or 0.03 percent, to 10,420.70.

IT, Teck, consumer durables, auto and power indices were in the positive zone, rising up to 1.08 percent.

Major gainers were TCS, Infosys, Tata Motors, ONGC, Wipro, M&M and Hero MotoCorp, gaining up to 2.32 percent.

Meanwhile, on a net basis, domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought shares worth Rs 111.82 crore yesterday, while foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) also bought equities worth Rs 362.30 crore, provisional data showed.

In the Asian region, Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.07 percent, while Shanghai Composite Index was down 0.45 percent in early trade. Japan's Nikkei shed 0.03 percent.

The US Dow Jones Industrial Average, however, ended 0.90 percent lower in yesterday's trade.