Mumbai, April 20 -- The key equity indices edged higher on Monday, extending gains for a second consecutive session, though volatility persisted amid uncertainty surrounding the West Asia conflict and the Iran-US ceasefire. The Nifty closed above the 24,350 mark, supported by PSU banks and auto stocks, while IT and metal shares remained under pressure.

The session began on a mildly positive note with intermittent buying in the morning. However, profit booking in the afternoon erased most of the intraday gains, leading to a largely flat close. Renewed tensions around the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz kept global sentiment fragile.

Investors are now closely tracking the ongoing Q4 earnings season, along with movements in crude oil, go...