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Key benchmark indices maintained its early gains in afternoon deals led by recovery in heavyweight banking stocks amid positive global cues. ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, SBI, which are up over 1 percent, recovered from lower levels after slumping in yesterday's trades. BSE banking index surged nearly 1 percent on Friday.
At 1430hrs, the 30-share BSE Sensex was up 0.63 percent or 130 points at 20,669 and the 50-stock NSE Nifty index was up 0.81 percent or 49 points, trading at 6,141 levels.
Broader markets too remained upbeat with BSE mid-cap and small-cap indices trading by 0.5-0.6%.
Other top Sensex gainers at this are ITC, Infosys, Larsen & Toubro and Reliance.
The investor sentiment got a boost from a survey which indicated a brisk recovery in the US manufacturing activity sparking off a rally in Asian market. Japan's Nikkei share average led the way, soaring 2.8 percent.
The rupee is trading higher at 62.09 per dollar versus its close of 62.26/27 on Thursday.
A dealer says USD/INR direction to be flow-based with no major cues. The pair is expected to hold in a 62 to 62.50 range during the day, dealers say.
All the sectoral indices, except Realty index down 0.2%, were in the green territory. FMCG and banking index added over 1% each.
IT, Metal and Oil & Gas indices gained between 0.7-0.8%.
Bharti Airtel and BHEL down over 1% each were the top losers among Sensex-30 scrips.
Hero MotoCorp, Sun Pharma, Cipla, HUL and NTPC losing 0.2-0.8% rounded off the losers list.
Among the top gainers were banking majors ICICI Bank and Axis Bank up 2-3%.
Tata Steel, ITC, Wipro, Tata Power, SBI, L&T and Dr Reddys Lab up 1-1.5% were the other notable gainers.
United Bank of India shares are down over 1 percent as Finance ministry accepted application for voluntary retirement of Chairperson & Managing Director Archana Bhargava on Friday.
The market breadth was very positive on the BSE. 1375 stocks advanced while 987 stocks declined.
