The key equity indices traded with modest gains in mid-afternoon trade. The Nifty traded above the 17,850 mark after hitting intraday low of 17,797.90 in early trade. metal stocks witnessed buying demand.

At 14:25 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 208.6 points or 0.35% to 60,509.18. The Nifty 50 index added 60.90 points or 0.34% to 17,874.50.

In the broader market, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index gained 0.39% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index advanced 0.50%.

The market breadth was positive. On the BSE, 1,974 shares rose and 1,451 shares fell. A total of 136 shares were unchanged.

Trading was volatile as traders roll over positions in the F&O segment from the near month April series to May series. The April 2023 F&O contracts will expire today, 27 April 2023.

Numbers to track:

The yield on India's 10-year benchmark federal paper declined to 7.108 from 7.116 in previous trading session.

In the foreign exchange market, the rupee edged higher against the dollar. The partially convertible rupee was hovering at 81.7075 compared with its close of 81.74 during the previous trading session.

MCX Gold futures for 5 June 2023 settlement advanced 0.37% to Rs 60,114.

The US Dollar index (DXY), which tracks the greenback's value against a basket of currencies, was down 0.10% to 101.37.

The United States 10-year bond yield rose 1.15% to 3.469.

In the commodities market, Brent crude for June 2023 settlement gained 46 cents or 0.59% to $78.15 a barrel.

Buzzing Index:

The Nifty Metal index advanced 0.80% to 5,759.10. The index declined 0.44% in past trading session.

Jindal Steel & Power (up 1.56%), Hindalco Industries (up 1.48%), JSW Steel (up 1.32%), Jindal Stainless (up 1.27%) and Hindustan Copper (up 1.06%), Tata Steel (up 0.8%), Adani Enterprises (up 0.56%), Steel Authority of India (up 0.49%), Ratnamani Metals & Tubes (up 0.4%) and Vedanta (up 0.4%) advanced.

On the other hand, Hindustan Zinc (down 0.88%), Welspun Corp (down 0.41%) and National Aluminium Company (down 0.24%) declined.

Stocks in Spotlight:

Hindustan Unilever declined 1.35%. The FMCG major reported 9.67% rise in standalone net profit to Rs 2,552 crore on 10.98% increase in turnover to Rs 14,638 crore in Q4 FY23 over Q4 FY22.

Coforge rose 1.52%. The company reported 49.69% decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 114.80 crore in Q4 FY23 as compared with Rs 228.20 crore in Q3 FY23.

Suzlon Energy fell 0.49%. The company said that it has received a 39 megawatt (MW) order for their 3 MW product series from a thermax group company, First Energy 5.