Indian equity benchmarks closed higher on Thursday, lifted by a rise in metal stocks, and other Asian equities on improved sentiment over expectations that major central banks may get less aggressive about rate hikes.

Dear Trader… Markets ended with modest gains on the expiry day of October month derivatives contracts amid mixed cues.  After the initial uptick, the Nifty index oscillated in a range and finally settled closer to the upper band of the day’s range at 17,736.95 levels. Meanwhile, sectoral indices also traded