The S&P BSE benchmark Sensex moved up by 42 points in late morning trade today on fresh buying, mainly in banking, capital goods, realty, auto and IT sector stocks, on the back of higher Asian cues.
Auto stocks rose after PSU OMCs reduced petrol price by Rs 3.05 per litre, the first reduction in rates in over five months, while diesel prices were raised by 50 paise a litre.
Sensex resumed higher at 19,452.05 and hovered in a range of 19,466.18 and 19,264.72 before quoting at 19,421.69 at 1030 hrs, showing a gain of 41.92 points or 0.22 per cent from its last close.
The NSE 50-share Nifty also looked up by 11.95 points or 0.21 per cent to 5,747.25 at 1030 hrs.
Major gainers were BHEL (4.11 per cent), Maruti Suzuki (2.29 per cent), Dr Reddy's Lab (1.73 per cent), SBI (1.04 per cent) and HDFC Bank (1.01 per cent).
However, Sesa Goa dropped by 3.02 per cent followed by Tata Power (2.71 per cent), NTPC (2.02 per cent), ONGC (1.98 per cent), Jindal Steel (1.97 per cent) and Hindalco Ind (1.56 per cent).
Asian stocks rose in their early trade as investors awaited a potential shutdown of the US government and a report showed confidence among large Japanese manufacturers increased before Prime Minister Shinzo Abe unveils plans for an economic-support package.
Key benchmark indices in Japan, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea rose between 0.41 per cent to 0.71 per cent.
