The key equity barometers traded with slight gains in morning trades. Nifty moved in a range of 22874-22657. Nifty FMCG, Nifty PSU Bank and Nifty Media shares advanced, while Nifty Auto shares declined.

NIFTY had edged lower 0.22% in last session and posted modest losses of 0.36% over last one-week.

At 12:15 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, gained 597.50 points or 0.82% to 73,843.53. The Nifty 50 index edged higher by 167.15 points or 0.74% to 22,866.

The broader market underperformed the frontline indices. The BSE 150 MidCap Index moved higher by 0.18% and the BSE 250 SmallCap Index posted modest gains of 0.18%.

The market breadth was favorable. On the BSE, 2787 shares advanced and 2034 shares fell. A total of 253 shares were unchanged.

Nifty FMCG index rose 1.57% to 43552. The index has fallen 5.27% in last one month and slumped 23.58% over last one year. United Spirits, adding 3.22%, led the gainers followed by ITC, edging up 2.16% and Britannia Inds., inching higher 2.15%, respectively. Out of 15 index constituents, 13 are reporting gains today.

Nifty PSU Bank index rallied 1.25% to 8236. The index has moved higher by 1.34% in last one month and posted modest gains of 0.57% over last one year. Indian Bank, up 2.38%, led the gainers followed by Bank of India, gaining 2.07% and Punjab Natl.Bank, gaining 2.04%, respectively. All 12 constituents are advancing today.

Nifty Auto index lost 0.40%. The index has slipped by 3.08% in last one month and inched down 5.31% over last one year. Hero Motocorp, down 2.74%, led the losers followed by Tube Investments, losing 1.77% and Bosch, edging lower 1.48%, respectively. Out of 15 index constituents, 12 are reporting loss today.

Asian markets posted modest gains on Thursday. China’s Shanghai composite is trading lower by 0.78%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is marginally lower by 0.22%. Japan’s Nikkei 225 is trading higher by 1.10%.

In Europe, German DAX inched higher 0.06%, UK’s FTSE 100 moved up 0.07% and French CAC remained flat.

In Commodities, MCX Crude oil drifted lower by 0.94% to trade at Rs 9,787 per barrel.