Taking cues from its Asian counterparts, Indian equity indices closed higher today as they were led by auto, media, financial services and metal stocks.  
 
Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, L&T, IndusInd Bank and UPL were the major Nifty drivers. The market was largely positive, with 38 stocks advancing and only 12 stocks falling on the Nifty 50 index.
 
While the benchmark Nifty closed 0.87%, higher at 10,582.60, Sensex gained 303.60 points or 0.89% to close at 34,445.75 points.
 
While Nifty Realty index and Nifty Auto index rose over 2%, Nifty Bank, Nifty Financial Services, media and metals went up over 1%.
The market participants will look forward to key economic data such as Nikkei Markit Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), Fiscal Deficit and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) later this week.
 
In the global markets, Asian shares made guarded gains today as investors braced for an event-packed week.
 
The major influencing factors, among others, were US inflation data and the first House testimony by the new head of the Federal Reserve.
 
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.6%, while Japan’s Nikkei increased 1.3%. Chinese blue chips added 0.7%. On Friday , Dow rose 1.39%, while the S&P 500 gained 1.60% and the Nasdaq 1.77%.
 
The previous trade session (Friday) -- both the key indices closed at almost a week`s highs as positive
global cues, along with a strong rupee and value buying, lifted investors` sentiments.
 
The Nifty50 had edged higher by 108.35 points to close at 10,491.05 points, while the Sensex ended at 34,142.15 points, up 0.95%.