Other bluechip gainers which helped indices to trade in positive zone were Axis Bank, GAIL, HDFC Bank, HeroMoto Corp, Larsen and Toubro, ITC Ltd, ONGC and Sun Pharma.

Stocks of steel companies, however, met with selling pressure after government yesterday gave nod to increasing royalty rates on minerals. Soft data from China, the biggest consumer of metals, also took a toll, brokers said.

Among steel shares, Tata Steel fell 1.62 per cent, Sesa Sterlite was down 1.73 per cent and SAIL dipped 2.95 per cent.

In oil markets, U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate for October delivery was down 27 cents at USD 93.18 while Brent for October eased 26 cents to USD 102.02 in afternoon trade.

Global stocks trend was mixed. European markeets opened higher while Asian markets mostly fell.

Sectorwise, the BSE Consumer Durables gained the most by surging 3.78 per cent, followed by Bankex 1.18 per cent, Auto index 0.79 per cent, PSU index 0.68 per cent, Oil and gas index 0.51 per cent and Capital goods index 0.65 per cent.

On the other hand, BSE Realty fell 1.91 percent, followed by BSE Metal (1.35 per cent) and Power (0.99 percent).

Meanwhile, Foreign Portfolio Investors bought shares worth a net 251.36 crore.