Nifty ends higher above the key 10,500-level

The NSE benchmark Nifty settled with modest gains to close at 44.60 points higher at 10,545.50 tracking higher Asian cues and improved macro-economic data.
The key indices opened higher and continued to trade strong, lifted by firm global markets with gains largely seen in metal, energy, private bank and financial stocks, though sentiments were under pressure due to PNB fraud shock.
Globally, Asian markets ended higher taking cues from overnight rally on Wall Street following the release of stronger-than-expected US inflation data.
European stocks were also trading higher, tracking firm global peers.
The NSE Nifty closed higher by 44.60 points, or 0.42 per cent, at 10,545.50, its highest close in a week after shuttling between 10,618.10 and 10,511.05.

The key index had slipped 38.85 points, or 0.37 per cent, in the previous session.

It saw an intra-day movement of about 107.05 points.
Sector-wise, Metal rose 0.69 per cent, followed by Energy 0.64 per cent, Private Bank 0.61 per cent, Financial service 0.59 per cent, FMCG 0.33 per cent, Nifty Bank 0.33 per cent and IT 0.29 per cent.
Losers included Media 1.15 per cent, PSU bank 1.10 per cent, Realty 1.02 per cent and Auto 0.25 per cent.
Major index gainers were Hindalco 3.39 per cent, BPCL 3.25 per cent, ICICI Bank 3.04 per cent, Vedanta Ltd 2.74 per cent and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited 2.16 per cent.

Losers included Indiabulls Housing Finance 2.66 per cent, Hero Motocorp 1.91 per cent, Cipla 1.67 per cent, Aurobindo Pharma Ltd 1.59 per cent and Bharti Airtel 1.35 per cent.
A total of 483 scrips advanced, 1,313 declined, while 44 remained unchanged. Total securities that hit their price bands were 259.
The turnover in the cash segment fell to Rs 31,825.40 crore from Rs 34,739.18 crore yesterday.
A total of 15,763.97 lakh shares changed hands in 10,925,120 trades. The market capitalisation of listed firms on the NSE stood at Rs 1,46,52,808 crore.