JOIN USThe 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,521.38 points, closed at 18,653.87 points, up 146.83 points or 0.79 percent compared to its previous close at 18,507.04 points.
The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also ended higher at 5,609.7 points, up 0.71 percent.
Both benchmark indices were languishing in the negative for most of the trading day.
Broader markets too notched up some gains. The BSE midcap index closed 0.41 percent up while the BSE smallcap index moved up 0.82 percent.
The market breadth at the BSE was still tilted towards the positive with 1,652 stocks advancing, 1,219 on the decline and 133 remaining unchanged.
Consumer durables, IT and telecom stocks were among the top gainers, while some auto and power scrips ended losers.
Among the gainers on the 30-scrip Sensex were: DLF, up 2.09 percent at Rs.239.85; Sterlite Industries, up 1.77 percent at Rs. 166.50; Tata Power, up 1.62 percent at Rs.1,314.90 and SBI, up 1.59 percent at Rs.2,511.60.
The losers included Tata Motors, down 3.16 percent at Rs.983.95; Hero Honda, down 1.22 percent at Rs.1,795.35; Maruti Suzuki, down 0.79 percent at Rs.1,162.90; and HDFC Bank, down 0.7 percent at Rs.510.80.
According to data available with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), foreign institutional investors sold stocks worth $11.81 million Tuesday.
The sovereign debt crisis in Europe and some banks in the region failing a stress test kept sentiments low. The stalemate in the US over raising the debt ceiling also worried investors.
The Japanese Nikkei closed Tuesday 0.85 percent lower at 9,889.72 points.
The Hang Seng of the Hong Kong stock exchange ended 0.45 percent up at 21,902.4 points, while the Chinese Shanghai composite index closed 0.7 percent down at 2,796.98 points.
Among European bourses, Britain's FTSE 100 was ruling 0.5 percent up at 5,781.53 points, and the French CAC 40 was ruling 1.28 percent higher at 3,697.6 points.
The German DAX was up 1.47 percent at 7,212.11 points.