Markets continue to trade in a narrow range with the BSE benchmark index trading within 79 points since the start of the day. At 13 hrs, the Sensex was up 54 points at 17,286 and the nifty gained 15 points at 5,250.
Earlier in the day, the Sensex saw a high of 17,343 and a low of 17,263.
The rupee trimmed early gains against dollar but was still trading higher by 31 paise at 55.63 a dollar on selling by banks and exporters amid persistent capital inflows.
In the broader markets the midcap and the smallcap indices added 0.5% each outperforming the Sensex up 0.3%.
Almost all the Asian markets were in the green after China's second-quarter gross domestic product data landed in line with forecasts, offsetting worries that a slowdown in China could undermine fragile global growth. Jakarta Composite and Kospi Composite rose 1% each. Shanghai Composite and Nikkei were flat with a positive bias.
The European markets opened in the positive with the CAC, DAX and FTSE gaining 0.3-0.4%.
Among the sectoral indices, Consumer Durables, Metal, FMCG and Realty slipped into the red losing 0.1-0.4%. Meanwhile, Bankex, PSU, Oil & gas, It and Auto indices retained their gains and was up 0.2-0.6%.
In the noon deals, TCS,Gail India, HDFC Bank, Cipla, Hero MotoCorp, ONGC and NTPC added 1-2%
Meanwhile, Jindal Steel, Maruti Suzuki, Infosys, Tata Power and Sun Pharma down 0.5-1% were the notable losers. Reliance Industries was flat with a negative bias.
Among other stocks, Den Networks soared 7% at Rs 123, also its 52-week high, after the company said that overseas investor - TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC has bought one per cent of the company through open market transaction.
SRF Limited moved higher by 5% at Rs 232 after the company said it has commissioned and capitalized projects at Dahej, Gujarat at an aggregate cost of Rs 250 crore.
The market breath remained positive on the BSE. 1441 stocks advanced while 1066 stocks declined on the BSE.