Prominent gainers on the Sensex at this time were Hindalco, up 4.67 percent at Rs.113.25; Tata Motors, up 3.39 percent at Rs.445.85; Hindustan Unilever, up 1.77 percent at Rs.289.70; and NTPC, up 1.43 percent at Rs.219.40.

Among losers on the 30-scrip Sensex were Tata Power, down 3.18 percent at Rs.1,315; ITC, down 2.56 percent at Rs.241.95; Bharti Airtel, down 2.53 percent at Rs.400.70, and Infosys, down 2.21 percent at Rs.2,030.

In other Asian markets, the Nikkei 225 Stock Average, a key index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, closed marginally higher at 10,375.01 points, up 22.54 points.

The Hang Seng, the primary index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, was ruling in the green at 20,813.77 points, up 6.51 points.