(Updates for market close)

By Vivek Kumar M

July 30 (Reuters) - India's equity benchmarks ended

little changed on Wednesday as gains in Larsen & Toubro after

upbeat earnings offset investor caution ahead of the U.S.

Federal Reserve's policy decision and a looming U.S. tariff

deadline.

The Nifty 50 rose 0.14% to 24,855.05 points and the

BSE Sensex gained 0.18% to 81,481.86.

Nine of the 16 major sectors advanced. Infrastructure major

Larsen & Toubro climbed about 5%, and was the biggest

percentage gainer on Nifty 50, after its 30% jump in

first-quarter profit came above estimates.

"U.S. tariffs and earnings visibility for second half of

fiscal 2026 are the key factors currently. Until clarity emerges

on these two, the market is unlikely to swing sharply in either

direction," said Arun Malhotra, fund manager at CapGrow Capital.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that a trade

deal with India was yet to be finalised and warned of possible

higher tariffs ahead of an August 1 deadline to seal an

agreement.

Investors are also waiting for Fed's policy decision later

today. The U.S. central bank is expected to hold rates but the

focus will be on Chair Jerome Powell's comments on the economic

and inflation outlook amid a prolonged wait for rate cuts.

Higher U.S. interest rates make emerging market equities

such as India less attractive for foreign investors, who have

been on a selling spree in India this month.

The broader mid-caps and small-caps

fell 0.1% and 0.5%, respectively.

Among individual stocks, Tata Motors fell 3.5% as

news reports of its plans to buy Italian truck maker Iveco for

$4.5 billion raised concerns over a potential strain to its

balance sheet.

GNG Electronics made a stellar debut on exchanges,

with shares jumping 40.7%.

Workplace solutions provider Indiqube Spaces

closed 8% lower in its first trading session.