Technical indicators also support positivity in the market.
Barring the capital goods index, all other sectors traded in the red, with the midcap and smallcap indices down half a percent each.
Manish Hathiramani, proprietary index trader and technical analyst at Deen Dayal Investments, said the markets are unable to decide the way forward.
Above 18,100, the outlook is positive, while below 17,700-17,800 it looks bearish.