Mumbai, June 11 -- The equity benchmark indices traded with moderate gains in early afternoon trade despite escalating tensions surrounding US-Iran conflict. However, market participants will monitor inflation trajectory, movements in crude oil and gold prices and global cues for further direction. Nifty traded above 23,250 mark.

Private bank shares witnessed buying demand for third consecutive trading sessions.

At 12:25 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex jumped 289.91 points or 0.39% to 74,273.08. The Nifty 50 index rose 76.15 points or 0.33% to 23,292.65.

In the broader market, the BSE 150 MidCap Index fell 0.40% and the BSE 250 SmallCap Index shed 0.26%.

The market breadth was negative. On the BSE, 1,480 shares rose and 2...