Sensex higher; SBI, Tata Motors up ahead of earnings

Reuters Market Eye - The BSE Sensex gains 0.23 pct; Nifty is up 0.24 pct.

State Bank of India gains 1.6 pct, Tata Motors up 1.3 pct ahead of earnings later in the day.

Other blue-chips also gain on continued foreign buying.

Larsen and Toubro gains 0.7 pct, while Axis Bank is up 1.1 pct.

Overseas investors buy shares worth 6.90 billion rupees ($112 million) on Thursday - NSE data.

Foreign portfolio investors have invested $15.12 bln in Indian stocks and $23.15 bln in debt so far in 2014 - regulatory data.

(Reporting by Abhishek Vishnoi)