<p>Indian shares ticked higher on Thursday, as coronavirus cases in the world's second-most populous nation neared 1 million, while an upbeat earnings by Infosys Ltd lifted IT stocks and capped losses.</p>.<p>By 0418 GMT, the NSE Nifty 50 index rose 0.42% to 10,661.15 and the S&P BSE Sensex was up 0.65% at 36,296.92.</p>.<p>Shares of bellwether Infosys Ltd surged over 9% after it reported a better-than-expected first-quarter profit on Wednesday evening and reinstated its full-year revenue growth guidance.</p>.<p>The Nifty IT index was up nearly 4% in early trade.</p>.<p>Coronavirus cases touched 968,876 as of Thursday morning, federal government data https://www.mohfw.gov.in showed, forcing many states and cities to impose fresh lockdowns to control its spread.</p>.<p>The pandemic has depressed domestic demand, with India reporting a trade surplus for the first time in over 18 years for June, as imports of crude oil, gold and other industrial products plunged, reflecting a slowing economy.</p>.<p>Miners Hindalco and Vedanta were among the session's top laggards as metal prices slid overnight ahead of key Chinese data that could shed light on demand.</p>.<p>The Nifty metals index was down 1.6% in early trading.</p>
<p>Indian shares ticked higher on Thursday, as coronavirus cases in the world's second-most populous nation neared 1 million, while an upbeat earnings by Infosys Ltd lifted IT stocks and capped losses.</p>.<p>By 0418 GMT, the NSE Nifty 50 index rose 0.42% to 10,661.15 and the S&P BSE Sensex was up 0.65% at 36,296.92.</p>.<p>Shares of bellwether Infosys Ltd surged over 9% after it reported a better-than-expected first-quarter profit on Wednesday evening and reinstated its full-year revenue growth guidance.</p>.<p>The Nifty IT index was up nearly 4% in early trade.</p>.<p>Coronavirus cases touched 968,876 as of Thursday morning, federal government data https://www.mohfw.gov.in showed, forcing many states and cities to impose fresh lockdowns to control its spread.</p>.<p>The pandemic has depressed domestic demand, with India reporting a trade surplus for the first time in over 18 years for June, as imports of crude oil, gold and other industrial products plunged, reflecting a slowing economy.</p>.<p>Miners Hindalco and Vedanta were among the session's top laggards as metal prices slid overnight ahead of key Chinese data that could shed light on demand.</p>.<p>The Nifty metals index was down 1.6% in early trading.</p>