After a flat opening, the key benchmark indices edged higher amid positive trade in most Asian markets. The Sensex was up 129 points at 16,570 levels and the Nifty rose 0.7 per cent to 4,918.

Buying interest was seen in IT, metal and auto stocks. Among the Sensex stocks, Sterlite Ind led the gainers. The stock rose nearly 4 per cent. Tata Motors was up 3.5 per cent while Infosys and Wipro rose over 2.6 per cent each.

In US, stocks mostly fell in light trading, though the Dow tacked on 20 points to close at a new high for the year. The Dow rose 20.03, or 0.2 percent, to 10,246.97, its highest close since Oct. 3, 2008.

The broader Standard & Poor's 500 index slipped 0.07, or less than 0.1 percent, to 1,093.01, after six days of gains. The Nasdaq composite index fell 2.98, or 0.1 percent, to 2,151.08.

Asian markets were trading mixed today. While Hong Kongs Hang Seng rose 0.7 per cent, Chinas Shanghai Composite and South Koreas Kospi were trading in red turf. Japans Nikkei was flat at 9,874.