The Sensex ended (provisional) at 17,312 , up 125 points and the Nifty at 5,248 , up 39 points.
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(Updated at 1431 hours)
Markets continued to witness positive trades in afternoon trades with the BSE Sensex at 17,274, up 87 points and the Nifty at 5,233, up 24 points.
Earlier in the day, the BSE benchmark index touched the day's high at 17,359 and the day's low at 17,196.
On the global front, Asian shares rose on Monday as weaker-than-expected US growth data left open the possibility for more monetary stimulus from the Federal Reserve, but trading was subdued with Japanese and Chinese markets closed. Hang Seng index gained nearly 2%, while Taiwan and Kospi gained 0.3% each. The Nikkei and Shanghai Composite indices remained closed for the day.
Meanwhile, European markets are mixed today. The FTSE 100 is up 0.36% while the DAX has gained 0.31%. The CAC 40 is off 0.55%.
Back home, BSE IT index is leading the gains, having advanced nearly 2% each. BSE Realty index has gained 1%.
BSE Healthcare index is leading the losses, having declined nearly 1%.
On the Sensex, TCS has gained 3% at Rs 1,238 and is the most prominent gainer.
India's biggest real estate developer DLF rose 2.1% to Rs 186.05 after Goldman Sachs upgraded its rating on the stock to "buy" from "neutral" and raised its 12-month target price to Rs 264 from R 252. Goldman cited a pick up in residential launches, a recovery in commercial property, easing interest rates, and improved outlooks for asset sales as well as for operating/financial leverage as reasons for upgrade.
Other prominent gainers include Infosys, Hero MotoCorp and ONGC, up 1-2% each.
The losers from the pack were BHEL, Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra & Mahindra, Sterlite Industries and Sun Pharma Industries, down 1-2% each. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and BGR Energy Systems are trading down by 2% each on reports that the Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (RVUN), a state government company, has scrapped EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) tenders for upcoming new super critical units of Suratgarh and Chhabra thermal power stations.
The overall market breadth is marginally positive as 1,361 stocks have advanced against 1,268 declining ones, on the BSE.
