Equity benchmark indices ended in the positive territory on Wednesday, with the BSE Sensex closing at its fresh lifetime high of 61980.72, helped by buying in banking counters.

After facing highs and lows during the day, the 30-share BSE Sensex finally ended 107.73 points, or 0.17 per cent, higher at 61980.72.

During the day, the index hit its 52-week high of 62052.57, higher by 179.58 points. The broader NSE Nifty ended marginally higher by 6.25 points, or 0.03 per cent, to 18409.65.

In Asia, Seoul, Shanghai and Hong Kong markets settled lower, while Tokyo ended higher. Europe was trading mostly lower in the afternoon session. Dow Jones was down 0.13 per cent in morning trade on Wednesday.

Brent crude was trading 0.28 per cent higher at $94.12 per barrel.

Foreign institutional investors offloaded shares worth Rs 221.32 crore on Tuesday.

The rupee depreciated by 35 paise to close at 81.26 against the dollar on Wednesday on disappointing trade data and foreign fund outflows.

Medanta debut

Shares of Global Health, which operates hospitals under the Medanta brand, ended over 24 per cent higher on Wednesday, the first day of trade, against the issue price of Rs 336.

The company’s stock made its market debut at Rs 398.15, rallying 18.49 per cent on the BSE. During the day, it zoomed 26.45 per cent to Rs 424.90. The stock later ended at Rs 415.65 apiece, higher by 23.70 per cent.

On the NSE, it listed at Rs 401, a jump of 19.34 per cent, and settled at Rs 417.30 apiece, higher by 24.19 per cent.