Domestic equity benchmark indices advanced during the second half on Thursday following a muted trading, as investors became cautious over the geopolitical tensions in West Asia and the rising crude oil prices.

"Indian benchmark indices opened on a flat note and traded in a choppy, volatile range throughout the session amid the monthly Sensex expiry. Despite the continued rise in crude oil prices, investor sentiment improved in the second half of the session as buying momentum strengthened in the benchmark indices. Sustained gains in auto stocks helped the market recover from intraday volatility, enabling the indices to close firmly in positive territory," Bajaj Broking Research said.