Markets northbound

The Sensex has gained 183 points at 20,227. The Nifty is higher by 49 points at 6067.

All the key indices are in the green. The Metal index continues to be the top gainer among the key sectoral indices, up 1.7% or 281 points at 16,933 followed by Oil & gas up 1.4% or 152 points at 10,797 and Consumer Durables index.

Meanwhile, IT index is flat at 5995 up 22 points.

Among the Metal stocks Hindalco Industries is the top gainer followed by Hindustan Zinc, Tata Steel and Sterlite Industries.

ONGC leads the rally among the Oil & Gas stocks followed by IOCL, Reliance Industries, Cairn India and Essar Oil

The broader markets are also higher by more than 0.5%. The Small-cap index is at 10,357 up 90 points and The Mid-cap index is at 8054 up 50 points at 8165. The BSE 500 breadth is extremely positive as 403 stocks are advancing and 92 stocks are declining.

Hindalco Industries, Tata Steel, Sterlite Industries, ONGC, NTPC and RIL are trading higher by more than 1.5% each.

Meanwhile, mild profit booking is seen in Hindustan Unilever, HDFC Bank and HDFC.