BENGALURU, Aug 7 Reuters Indian shares rose marginally on Monday, helped by pharma and auto stocks, amid caution in a dataheavy week that includes U.S. inflation data and the Reserve Bank of India39;s monetary policy decision.

The Nifty 50 index was up 0.24 at 19,563.05 at 1022 a.m. IST, while the SP BSE Sensex rose 0.25 to 65,883,65.

Asian markets were even more subdued, with the MSCI Asia exJapan losing 0.05.

Overall valuations are somewhat stretched and to that extent, the mood is cautious, Rajeev Thakkar, chief investment officer and director at PPFAS Asset Management.

The India earnings season has been along expected lines, but I do not think it justifies our runaway market.

Analysts expect the markets to continue to consolidate between 19,150 and 19,800 levels ahead of U.S. inflation data and the RBI39;s monetary policy decision, both on Thursday.

Seven of the 13 major sectoral indexes logged gains, with the pharma index jumping 1.46 to a record high.

Lupin led the gains, adding nearly 3 and advancing for the sixth session in a row, continuing a postearnings rally.

Aurobindo Pharma jumped 2 to a near twoyear high after the U.S. health regulator completed a preapproval inspection at its formulation manufacturing facility.

Mahindra Mahindra climbed nearly 3 and was the top Nifty gainer after the automaker said on Friday that its quarterly profit nearly doubled.

On the flip side, Britannia dropped 1.7, the most on the Nifty, after the biscuits maker…