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Markets continue to trade in the green on account of positive Asian cues and buying in heavyweights like ICICI Bank, L&T, RIL and Infosys. At 1125 hrs, the Sensex was up 57 points at 20,908 and the Nifty added 14 points to trade at 6,203.
In the broader markets, the midcap index gained 0.4% and the smallcap index was up 0.3%, in line with the BSE benchmark index.
Meanwhile, Asian shares edged to a two-week high on Tuesday, adding to the previous day's hefty gains on China's economic reform plans, while the dollar was hobbled by expectations the U.S. Federal Reserve will keep its stimulus a little longer.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan added 0.2 percent while the Nikkei fell 0.3 percent, moving away from a six-month high hit on Friday, with a trader saying domestic investors continued to cash in recent gains.
Back home, on the sectoral front, Realty index was up 1.4% and was the top gainer followed by Capital Goods, Oil & Gas, Auto and Teck indices up 0.3-0.8%.
Bankex, Health Care, IT, Metal and PSU indices were flat with a positive bias.
FMCG, Power and Consumer Durables indices were in the red, down 0.1-0.2%.
The losers among the Sensex-30 were Sesa Sterlite, HDFC Bank, BHEL, Dr Reddys Lab, Tata Steel, TCS and Bajaj Auto down 0.7-2%.
Among the gainers were Hindalco and Maruti Suzuki up 3% each.
Jindal Steel, Gail India, Bharti Airtel, L&T, SBI, Infosys, ICICI Bank and RIL which gained 0.5-2% were the other prominent gainers.
In individual stocks, Shalimar Paints rallied nearly 15% at Rs 95 on back of heavy volumes on the bourses. The stock opened at Rs 82.70 and has seen over two-fold jump in trading volumes.
Sabero Organics Gujarat was down 3.3% at Rs 125 after the company said that it has received a letter from Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) to close production process at its Sarigam unit due to non-compliances of the environmental parameters.
Jet Airways (India) is trading higher by 2.7% at Rs 319, on reports that the board of directors of the company will meet tomorrow to finalise the preferential allotment of 24% equity to Etihad Airways.
The market breadth was very positive on the BSE. 1054 stocks advanced while 904 stocks declined.
