IT, metals help markets trade in green

Markets continued to trade at higher levels as most sectoral indices gained in late morning trades.

BSE Sensex added 136 points at 18,359. Nifty was up 34 points at 5,497.

BSE consumer durables led the sectoral indices. IT and metal indices jumped over 1% each. Bankex, realty and auto indices were up over 0.8% each.

Jaiprakash Associates jumped 3% to Rs 84. Reliance Infra added 2.5% to Rs 611. DLF advanced 1.5% to Rs 222.

Bajaj Auto and Tata Motors were among the auto gainers, up around 2% each. M&M added 0.8% at Rs 666.

Bharti Airtel, ONGC, Tata Steel, HDFC, BHEL and Infosys were up over 1% each. Other gainers included TCS, Reliance Communications and Jindal Steel.

Meanwhile, some auto stcoks dipped into red. Maruti Suzuki slipped 1.2% to Rs 1,249. Hero Honda shed 1% at Rs 1,513. Larsen & Toubro and NTPC dropped marianlly as well.