Prominent gainers on the Sensex at this time were TCS, up 4.97 percent at Rs.533.50; Wipro, up 2.83 percent at Rs.513; Infosys, up 2.32 percent at Rs.2,089.30; and Tata Power, up 2.14 percent at Rs.1,251.60.

Among losers on the Sensex were M&M, down 6.26 percent at Rs.781.95; Hindustan Unilever, down 4.06 percent at Rs.258.90; Hero Honda, down 3.39 percent at Rs.1,431, and ITC, down 3.22 percent at Rs.222.75.

In other Asian markets, the Nikkei 225 Stock Average, a key index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange broke its 10-month high to close at 10,524.26 points, up 112.17 points.

Better than expected job loss data from the US and a rise in Japanese machinery orders in June helped the benchmark index rise.

The Hang Seng, the primary index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, was also ruling in the green at 20,766.28 points, up 390.91 points.