Mumbai, July 31 (Inditop.com) A key index of the Indian equities markets extended its morning gains Friday and was ruling 1.75 percent up from its last closing figure, even as its Asian peers continued to trade in the green.

Positive corporate results also seemed to boost confidence among investors.

At 12.22 p.m., the 30-scrip benchmark index of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the Sensex, which opened lower at 15,449.47 points, was at 15,657.39 points — 269.43 points or 1.75 percent higher than Thursday’s closing figure.

The S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) too was trading in the green at 4,643 points, up 1.57 percent.

Broader market indices also moved into the positive with the BSE midcap index trading 1.35 percent higher and the BSE smallcap index moving up 0.81 percent.

Of the 13 sectoral indices on the BSE, those for FMCG, banking and energy stocks were gaining the most.

The market breadth was tilted towards the positive on the BSE, with 1,566 stocks rising compared to 907 declining. Eighty-three remained unchanged.

Among prominent gainers on the Sensex at this time were ONGC up 5.74 percent at Rs.1,162.70; Tata Motors up 5.61 percent at Rs.417.60; SBI up 4.55 percent at Rs.1,801.20; and Sterlite up 3.88 percent at Rs.651.

There were only four losers on the 30-scrip Sensex: Bharti Airtel down 0.71 percent at Rs.420.50; NTPC down 0.23 percent at Rs.216.80; Hero Honda down 0.1 percent at Rs.1,638 and ACC down 0.09 percent at Rs.873.50.

In other Asian markets, the Nikkei 225 Stock Average, a key index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange closed up at 10,356.83 points, up 191.62 points.

However, the Hang Seng, the primary index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, was ruling in the green at 20,618.29 points, up 384.21 points.