Despite a first-time drop in fresh daily Covid-19 infections below one lakh, Indian markets started trading on Tuesday on a choppy note, driven by tepid cues from other parts of the world.

The 30-share S&P BSE Sensex was trading 54.44 points or 0.10 per cent higher at 52,382.95 in initial deals. Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty advanced 13.85 points or 0.09 per cent to 15,765.50.

Tech Mahindra was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, rising around 2 per cent, followed by Bajaj Finance, Infosys, HCL Tech, NTPC and TCS. On the other hand, ONGC, SBI, IndusInd Bank, Sun Pharma and ICICI Bank were among the laggards.

The BSE benchmark scaled 228.46 points or 0.44 per cent to a record high of 52,328.51, and the NSE index surged 81.40 points or 0.52 per cent to a record 15,751.65 at the close of Monday’s trading. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) were net sellers in the capital market as they offloaded shares worth 186.46 crore on Monday, as per provisional exchange data.

“Domestic equities look to be modestly good as of now. Daily caseload falling below one lakh yesterday first time after two months and the Centre assuring state governments to supply Covid jabs at own cost for all offer additional comfort,” said Binod Modi, the head of strategy at Reliance Securities.

India registered 86,498 cases, the lowest in 66 days, in the last 24 hours, said a home ministry statement on Tuesday morning. India’s tally of Covid-19 cases has gone up to 2,89,96,473 and the daily positivity rate has dropped to 4.62 per cent. Death toll climbed to 3,51,309 with 2,123 new fatalities, the lowest in around 47 days, the statement showed.

India’s active cases reduced to 13,03,702, comprising 4.50 per cent of the total infections, while the national Covid-19 recovery rate has improved to 94.29 per cent.

On the global front, US equities ended mixed with Dow and S&P 500 recording moderate contraction. However, soft bond yield, supported by lower-than-expected Job data for May, helped tech-led Nasdaq to extend gain.

Bourses in Shanghai, Tokyo and Hong Kong were in the red in mid-session deals, while Seoul was trading with gains.

International oil benchmark Brent crude was trading 0.98 per cent lower at $70.79 per barrel.