Indian benchmark indices ended marginally lower in a highly volatile session on the Monthly F&O expiry day. At close, the Nifty was down 16.40 points or 0.16% at 10288.90.
Volumes on the NSE were slightly above average with Banks/NBFCs, Auto -2 wheelers and FMCG stocks doing well, while Metals, Oil 7 Gas, IT, Cement shares fell.
Shares slipped in Asia on Thursday after a sharp retreat overnight on Wall Street as new coronavirus cases in the U.S. climbed to their highest level in two months, dimming investors' hopes for a relatively quick economic turnaround.
European stocks swung to positive territory on Thursday after a weak opening, as investors weighed the economic risks of a number of upturns in coronavirus infections. European shares inched higher on Thursday after a survey showed consumer confidence in Germany has improved more than expected. EU-US trade tensions and the IMF's slashing of its forecasts for global growth served to cap the upside to some extent.
Technically, the Nifty is trapped between 10205 to 10362 band. A move either way could decide its near term future direction.