Indian shares ekes out gain; Infosys rallies

Indian shares edged higher for a third day on Wednesday, tracking broader Asian shares, but caution remained ahead of the global central bankers meeting later this week.

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Reuters

Indian shares edged higher for a third day on Wednesday, tracking broader Asian shares, but caution remained ahead of the global central bankers meeting later this week.

At 0600 GMT, the S&P BSE Sensex gained 0.08 percent at 31,594 while the broader NSE Nifty advanced 0.07 at 9,859.

Among the other top index gainers: Lupin rose 3.4 percent, Sun Pharma gained 2.2 percent, Infosys added 2.1 percent while Cipla was up 1.5 percent.

Infosys, the country's second-largest software exporter, was among the top gainers on speculation that co-founder Nandan Nilekani might make a comeback as the company's head.

Liquor stocks gained: United Spirit rose 3.7 percent, Pioneer Distilleries gained 4.2 percent, Globus Spirits added 5.6 percent, Tilaknagar Industries rose 5.3 percent, Radico Khaitan added 2.9 percent and United Breweries was up 2 percent.

Market breadth was in the favour of gainers, with about 2 stocks advancing to every 1 stock that declined.

Asian stocks were on the hook ahead of the Jackson Hole central-bank meeting. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.4 percent.

U.S. President Donald Trump's latest remarks, which included threat to shut down the U.S. government and talk of ending the North American Free Trade Agreement gripped financial markets overnight.

On Wednesday, U.S. stock indexes closed between 0.3 percent and 0.4 percent lower.

Markets are focusing on the annual conference of global central bankers hosted by the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank at Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Fed Chair Janet Yellen and European Central Bank President Mario Draghi will be among the officials addressing the summit, which kicks off later today.

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