Indian share prices closed marginally higher on Thursday as overseas funds bought leading index shares on strong earnings for the fourth quarter ended March, dealers said. They said that full-year earnings for most Indian companies reported in April and related guidance for future profits kept sentiment strong.
The benchmark Mumbai stock exchange 30-share Sensex index closed up 11.11 points or 0.08 percent at 14,228.88. The Indian rupee also gained Thursday against the dollar to a nearly decade high of 40.78.
Hectic buying was seen in India's largest private sector company Reliance Industries, which fell 9.85 rupees or 0.62 percent to 1,590, ahead of fourth quarter earnings later Thursday. "The buying momentum slowed down in late afternoon trade," said Hiten Mehta, a fund manager with Fortune Financial Services.