Prominent gainers on the Sensex at this time were Sun Pharma, up 1.92 percent at Rs.1,205; BHEL, up 1.48 percent at Rs.2,346; ICICI Bank, up 1.09 percent at Rs.733.45, and DLF, up 1.09 percent at Rs.395.65.

Among losers on the Sensex were Maruti Suzuki, down 2.08 percent at Rs.1,411; Hero Honda, down 1.85 percent at Rs.1,573.90; Jaiprakash Associates, down 1.82 percent at Rs.239.80, and Tata Motors, down 1.32 percent at Rs.443.50.

In other Asian markets, the Nikkei 225 Stock Average, a key index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, closed higher at 10,388.09 points, up 135.56 points.

The Hang Seng, the primary index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, was ruling in the green at 20,593.79 points, up 99.02 points.