Rate sensitives keep markets in green

Markets continue to trade on a positive note, albeit off the day's high. The Sensex was up 146 points at 18,635.

Nifty was up 34 points at 5,570.

BSE mid and small cap indices were underperforming in morning trades. The indices were up 0.6% each to 6,641 and 8,072, respectively.

BSE bankex and auto indices were up 1.2% each at 12,538 and 8,993. Exide Industries surged 3% to Rs 145.

Hero Honda, Bharat Forge, Ashok Leyland, Mahindra & Mahindra and Bajaj Auto were up 1-2% each. Maruti Suzuki and Tata Motors were up marginally in trades.

Among other Sensex stocks, Tata Power and HDFC jumped over 2% each to Rs 1,223 and Rs 684, respectively.  Reliance Infra, Jindal Steel, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Infosys and SBI jumped nearly 1% each.

However, Larsen & Toubro dropped 1% to Rs 1,643. Hindalco slipped 1% to Rs 208. Bharti Airtel recovered some of its losses and was down 0.5% at Rs 329.