The market breadth was positive, with 1,387 stocks rising compared to 466 declining. Ffity-seven remained unchanged.

Among prominent gainers on the Sensex at this time were Sterlite, up 4.86 percent at Rs.630.55; Hindalco, up 4.21 percent at Rs.89.10; ITC, up 3.83 percent at Rs.226.20; and Reliance Infra, up 3.47 percent at Rs.1,129.10.

There were only two losers: Sun Pharma, down 3.32 percent at Rs.1,213.05, Bharti Airtel, down 0.13 percent at Rs.821.80.

In other Asian markets, the Nikkei 225 Stock Average, a key index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, was ruling in the positive terrain Thursday at 9,853.28 points, up 130.12 points.

The Hang Seng, the primary index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, was also ruling firm at 19,696.97 points, up 448.80 points.