Indian shares ended marginally higher on Thursday as a drop in information technology stocks weighed on gains in financials, while markets awaited a key U.S. inflation report.

Dear Trader… The 30-share BSE benchmark Sensex rose by 144 points, or 0.18%, settling at 81,611, while the broader NSE Nifty future gained 34 points, or 0.14%, to close at 25,117. Kotak Bank, JSW Steel, HDFC Bank, IndusInd Bank, Power Grid, and Maruti were the top Sensex gainers, rising 1-4%.