The market breadth was positive, with 1,601 stocks rising compared to 709 declining. Eighty-nine remained unchanged.

Among prominent gainers on the Sensex at this time were Sterlite, up 4.93 percent at Rs.625.20; DLF, up 4.85 percent at Rs.360.15; ONGC, up 4.8 percent at Rs.1,095; and ICICI Bank, up 4.11 percent at Rs.803.70.

There were only two losers: Bharti Airtel, down 0.54 percent at Rs.833 and BHEL, down 0.13 percent at Rs.2,212.

In other Asian markets, the Nikkei 225 Stock Average, a key index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, closed marginally up Wednesday at 9,723.16 points, up 71.14 points.

The Hang Seng, the primary index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, was ruling at 19,556.67 points, up 54.94 points.