Credit: REUTERS/DANISH SIDDIQUIBy 0357 GMT, the broader NSE Nifty 50 index .NSEI was up 0.06% at 11,513.25 and the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex .BSESN 0.06% at 38,876.41.
The Nifty IT index .NIFTYIT rose 1.5% and was the top gainer among sectors, while the Nifty pharma index .NIPHARM added 0.5%.
IT services company HCL Technologies HCLT.NS was the top percentage gainer on the Nifty 50, up 4.35%, after the company announced plans to buy Australian firm DWS Ltd DWS.AX.
India's coronavirus cases surged past 5.4 million by Sunday, government data showed.
The country also passed three laws last week aimed at allowing farmers sell their produce directly to food processors and retailers, sparking protests from opposition lawmakers who said the law would leave farmers at the mercy of large corporations.
Among other sectors and shares, the Nifty banking index .NSEBANK, which tracks both state-owned and private-sector lenders, fell for a third straight session and was down 0.3%.
Bajaj Auto BAJA.NS was the top percentage loser on the Nifty 50, falling 1.4%. It dragged the Nifty auto index .NIFTYAUTO lower by 0.3%.
(Reporting by Derek Francis in Bengaluru; editing by Uttaresh.V)
((derek.francis@thomsonreuters.com; +91-9986311363 and @derekfrancis089 on Twitter;))
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
