BENGALURU, June 23 Reuters Indian shares bucked a broader downturn on Thursday as weak metal and oil prices drove beatendown automakers to their best day since April 2020.

The NSE Nifty 50 index rose 0.93 to 15,556.65, while the SP BSE Sensex climbed 0.86 to 52,265.72.

The indexes have added around 1.7 so far this week, after two consecutive weeks of decline fuelled by concerns over interest rate hikes and growth.

Aiding sentiment on Thursday was a further retreat in crude prices as investors assessed recession risks and the impact of higher rates on fuel demand. Cheaper oil tends to benefit oilimporting countries like India.

Fall in crude oil prices gave some respite to the market, although concerns of persistent foreign investor selling and rising bond yields in the U.S. will continue to keep traders on edge, said Shrikant Chouhan, head of equity research retail at Kotak Securities.

Analysts also said central bank commentary that inflation was expected to come down to 4 in 202324 was underpinning sentiment.

The Nifty Auto index was the best performing subindex, surging 4.4. Recession worries sent metal prices sharply lower, boosting automakers which have grappled with rising input costs for several quarters.

The auto index had fallen around 6 this month, up to last close.

India39;s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki gained the most on the Nifty 50, rising 6.3 to its highest since late February. Truckmaker Eicher Motors and twowheeler maker Hero MotoCorp jumped 5.9…