Key equity indices firmed up and hit fresh intraday high in morning trade. At 10:25 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 27.72 points or 0.08% at 36,240.63. The Nifty 50 index was up 1.30 points or 0.01% at 10,856.45. Positive cues from Asian markets supported buying in domestic shares.

Indices were trading with small losses in early trade. Benchmarks firmed up and hit fresh intraday high in morning trade.

Among secondary barometers, the BSE Mid-Cap index was up 0.54%. The BSE Small-Cap index was up 0.36%.

The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was positive. On BSE, 1132 shares rose and 756 shares fell. A total of 108 shares were unchanged.

FMCG shares advanced. Bajaj Corp (up 1.36%), Colgate Palmolive (India) (up 0.85%), Tata Global Beverages (up 0.80%), Hindustan Unilever (up 0.79%), Marico (up 0.60%), GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (up 0.55%), Procter & Gamble Hygiene & Health Care (up 0.45%), Godrej Consumer Products (up 0.41%), Nestle India (up 0.26%) and Jyothy Laboratories (up 0.15%), edged higher. Britannia Industries (down 0.16%) and Dabur India (down 0.18%), edged lower.

Metal stocks were mixed. Hindustan Zinc (up 0.71%), Tata Steel (up 0.58%), Steel Authority of India (up 0.57%), NMDC (up 0.16%) and JSW Steel (up 0.02%), edged higher. Vedanta (down 0.08%), Hindustan Copper (down 0.2%), National Aluminium Company (down 0.48%), Jindal Steel & Power (down 0.53%) and Hindalco Industries (down 1%), edged lower.

Overseas, most Asian shares were trading higher. China's Producer Price Index (PPI), which measures price increases before they reach the consumer, in December rose 0.9% on-year. That compares with the a 2.7% year-on-year increase in November. China's December consumer inflation (CPI), a gauge of prices for goods and services, rose 1.9% on year. The CPI rose 2.2% in November.

US stocks closed higher for a fourth session Wednesday, on reports that the US and China have narrowed differences over trade. Minutes from the December's Federal Open Market Committee meeting, which indicated caution on future interest rate hikes, also helped to buoy sentiment.

The US and China wrapped up their first face-to-face trade negotiations since a temporary tariff truce was declared last month. In a statement released after talks concluded, the US trade representative's office said officials had discussed making any deal subject to ongoing verification and effective enforcement. The statement added that negotiators had conveyed President Trump's commitment to addressing our persistent trade deficit and to resolving structural issues in order to improve trade between our countries.

China's commerce ministry said on Thursday trade talks with the United States this week were extensive and detailed, and established a foundation for the resolution of each others' concerns.

Meanwhile, the release of Fed minutes revealed that some central-bank officials hard reservations about an interest-rate increase last month due to market volatility, though policy makers voted unanimously in favor of the move. They also recommended the Fed should be patient and stressed that a relatively limited amount of additional tightening is appropriate.