Some late hour buying pulled the Indian markets high into the positive territory from what was otherwise looking like a lacklustre close to the day. Strength was seen in stocks from the IT and banking sectors. However, auto and FMCG stocks continued to trade weak. On the broader BSE, there were two losers for every stock that closed in the positive today.

The BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty closed with marginal gains of around 70 points (0.4%) and 30 points (0.6%) respectively. Mid and small cap stocks however closed in the red. The BSE Midcap and BSE Smallcap indices closed down by 0.2% and 0.5% respectively. At the time of writing this, the rupee was trading at 45.57 to the US dollar.

EIA Washington produces a ton of energy data that’s very current and detailed on global energy production. But what’s harder to come by is Non-OECD oil and oil product consumption. As the calendar turns to March, a lot of the annual data starts to complete for the prior years, and I found my way deep into some EIA caverns last night, and drew up the following chart (click to enlarge):

Although off the day’s lows, the markets could muster only small gains during the closing hours of trade and thus end the day marginally in the green. While the Sensex edged higher by around 40 points (0.3%), NSE Nifty closed with small gains of around 10 points (up 0.3%). BSE Midcap and Small cap indices traded weak today and recorded marginal declines. On the Sensex, three stocks gained for every two that ended lower.

Most Asian markets closed in the green today and Europe too is showing a fair degree of buoyancy right now. As regards the exchange rate, the rupee was seen trading at Rs 45 per dollar at the time of writing.