The Indian equity benchmark indices closed at record highs for the sixth straight session led by buying across the sectors. The breadth of the market is neutral and the advance-decline ratio is at 1:1.

Among the 50 stocks on Nifty, Hindalco, Infosys, Tech Mahindra, JSW Steel, and Tata Steel lead the gains, as each scrip rose over 2.5 to 5 percent. Leading the losses were HCL Tech, Mahindra & Mahindra, Asian Paints, Dr Reddy’s, and Britannia.

Among sectors on NSE, a strong rally was seen in metal, bank, IT, and PSU bank indices, while pharma and media indices declined over half a percent. PSU Banks saw another day of healthy gains with Union Bank gaining 9 percent and PNB up 8 percent.

IRCTC continued to surge higher as the stock climbed  8 percent higher to close at a record high. Auto stocks remained under pressure on muted festival demand with Mahindra & Mahindra being the top loser.

Globally, world shares slowed their charge after data showed slower-than-expected growth in China and surging oil prices. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan eased 0.1 percent.

Nasdaq futures and S&P 500 futures were declining as well, with both e-minis down over 0.2 percent. The pan-European STOXX 600 index fell 0.4 percent dragged by luxury stocks with exposure to China and poor earnings updates.

Over in commodities, oil prices extended a recent rally amid a global energy shortage with U.S. crude touching a seven-year high and Brent a three-year peak.

Oil prices edged higher on Thursday, supported by a sharp decline in U.S. crude stocks and a weaker dollar, though gains were capped by an OPEC+ decision to stick to its policy of only gradual increases to output. Gold fell 0.2 percent at $1,763 an ounce, after falling 1.5 percent Friday as upbeat retail sales drove US bond yields higher.

With inputs from Reuters

(Edited by : Yashi Gupta)