MUMBAI: Key indices were trading on a firm note tracking gains in financial stocks. PSU and auto counters too led the upmove. Realty and metal stocks pared losses but were still trading in the negative terrain.

At 1:20 pm, National Stock Exchange’s Nifty was trading at 5278.90, up 0.51 per cent or 26.7 points. The index rose to a high of 5292.50 from a low of 5228.95.

Bombay Stock Exchange’s Sensex was at 17,678.89, higher by 124.59 points or 0.71 per cent. The index touched a high of 17,712.60 and low of 17,505.50 in trade so far.

BSE Midcap Index was up 0.54 per cent and BSE Smallcap Index climbed 0.98 per cent.

Sectorally, the BSE Bankex climbed 2.24 per cent followed by BSE PSU Index up 1.69 per cent and BSE Auto Index up 1.61 per cent. Meanwhile, BSE Metal Index shed 0.62 per cent and BSE Realty Index lost 0.36 per cent.

Major Nifty gainers were HDFC Bank (4.14%), Hero Honda (3.43%), Axis Bank (2.52%), HDFC (2.22%) and Mahindra & Mahindra (2.03%).

Ambuja Cements (-2.52%), Tata Steel (-2.04%), Cairn (-1.83%), Jindal Steel (-1.5%), Grasim Industries (-1.31%) continued to lag behind.

Market breadth improved with 1719 advances outnumbering 1113 declines on the BSE.