Indian shares settled marginally lower on Thursday, as investors booked profits following recent sharp gains, even as global markets rose for a 10th straight day to record highs on optimism over a deal to end the Middle East war. In India, the Nifty 50 fell 0.14% to 24,196.75 points and the Sensex lost 0.16% to 77,988.68. The benchmarks had gained about 0.8% earlier in the day, on top of a 1.6% jump in the previous session. “Traders are booking profits after the rally as they await further progress in the Middle East. The key concern is that Strait of Hormuz remains largely shut,” said Dharmesh Kant, head of equity research at Cholamandalam Securities. Six of the 16 major sectors ended lower, while the broader small-caps and mid-caps added 0.9% and 0.6%, respectively. Investors are hopeful that the war in the Middle East may be near an end, with a key Pakistani mediator in Tehran and President Trump’s administration talking up hopes for a deal that would open the strait, which remains largely shuttered.