By Vivek Kumar M
India’s equity benchmarks were little changed in early trades on Wednesday, mirroring Asian peers, after mixed signals from U.S. jobs data kept the Federal Reserve’s rate trajectory outlook uncertain.
The Nifty 50 
NIFTY and the BSE Sensex 
SENSEX rose 0.1% each to 25,881.7 points and 84,719.84, respectively, as of 9:46 a.m. IST.
Ten of the 16 major sectors advanced. The broader mid-caps 
CNXMIDCAP and small-caps CNXSMALLCAP were little changed.
Asian markets (.MIAPJ0000PUS) were muted as mixed U.S. jobs data reading left investors awaiting further cues for their next move.
U.S. jobs growth rebounded more than expected in November, but the unemployment rate rose to a four-year high of 4.6%. Investors are now waiting for the U.S. consumer price inflation data for November due on Thursday.
Higher interest rates in the U.S. make emerging markets such as India less attractive to foreign portfolio investors.
Meanwhile, foreign investors have sold Indian equities for eight consecutive sessions till Tuesday, per provisional data, as rupee continues to depreciate against dollar.
“Persistent FPI selling and weakness in the rupee remain key near-term headwinds, compounded by delays in the conclusion of India-U.S. trade negotiations,” said Ponmudi R, chief executive officer at Enrich Money.
Among individual stocks, Shriram Finance 
SHRIRAMFIN rose 2.2% ahead of its board meeting on December 19 to consider raising funds.
Indian Overseas Bank 
IOB fell 3.5% after the government announced an offer for sale of up to 3% stake at a floor price of 34 rupees per share.