Indian equity benchmarks, including the Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex, closed higher on Thursday, buoyed by positive global sentiment and optimism surrounding India-US trade talks and phase-1 agreement progress. The Nifty 50 gained 0.54% to 26,192, and the Sensex rose 0.52% to 85,633. While large-cap sectors like Auto, Financials, and IT supported the gains, small-cap and mid-cap stocks saw a mixed performance. Investors are advised to remain cautious ahead of upcoming US economic data.