MUMBAI: The benchmark BSE Sensex pared its early gains as it traded higher by 155 points even as the rupee managed to gain some ground against the dollar.

Some bargain buying by investors at lower levels helped.

The BSE Sensex was trading at 27,543.18, up 30.92 points, or 0.11 percent, from its previous close of 27,512.26 at 1233 hours. It opened higher at 27,635.25 and went on to touch a high of 27,791.10.

The 50-share Nifty too moved up 9.85 points, or 0.12 percent, to 8,359.30 at 1233 hours.

Brokers, however, said the disruption in Parliament by the Opposition has clouded the outlook for stocks.

Lupin rose the most 2.34 percent while Cipla and Bharti Airtel registered gains too.

On the other hand, Tata Steel fell 3.59 percent followed by Vedanta and Hindalco.

The benchmark BSE Sensex rebounded over 278 points to 27,791.10 in early trade today, reversing its fall for the last four sessions after retail inflation eased in July, raising hopes of a rate cut by the Reserve Bank.

Industrial output too cheered, which expanded at a 4-month high of 3.8 percent in June.

Besides, a firming trend at other Asian markets buoyed sentiment.

The 30-share barometer recovered sharply 278.84 points, or 1.01 percent, to 27,791.10, with all sectoral indices led by realty, consumer durables, banking and capital goods trading in the positive terrain with gains up to 1.98 percent.

The gauge had tumbled 785.87 points in previous four straight sessions on yuan woes with the rupee plunging to a nearly 2-year low and uncertainty over the fate of a key GST bill.

The NSE index Nifty recaptured the 8,400-level by recovering 70.80 points, or 0.85 percent, to 8,420.25.

Brokers said buying activity picked up on positive economic data as retail inflation fell to 3.78 percent in July.

Among other Asian markets, Hong Kong's Hang Seng was up 0.24 percent while Japan's Nikkei was trading 0.80 percent higher in early trade.

The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended almost flat in yesterday's trade.