The 30-share BSE Sensex continues to trade firm after opening positively at 15,018.71. It touched a high of 15,075.30. The stocks from IT and auto led the advances.

Asian markets boosted in the early trading sessions on signs of rising economic growth in Japan and South Korea and also because of the increase in the prices of oil.

At present, the BSE Sensex is trading at 15,040.16, up 76.04 points, whereas the broad based NSE Nifty is trading at 4,411.15, up 26.3 points (10.13 a.m). Out of the total 1,472 shares traded at the BSE, 1,128 advanced, 303 declined while 41 remained unchanged.

Technical analyst Vishwas Agarwal has specified support levels for trading in IT stocks. He touts Infosys Technology above Rs 1,975, Wipro above Rs 525.00, Satyam Computer above Rs 475.00 and TCS above Rs 1,165.00, are good for trading.

He added that one should catch significant support levels for Nifty 4,286, Reliance Industries Rs 1,665 and State Bank of India Rs 1,525 in order to decide the market mood.

The sectoral indices have also showed upward movements. The BSE Auto rose 0.13%, BSE IT rose 1.38%, FMCG rose 0.16% and BSE consumer goods rose 0.66%, while BSE bankex declined 0.11%.

Leaders on the index were Infosys, HDFC Bank, Reliance Energy, TCS, Cipla and Wipro. Laggards at the BSE were Mahindra & Mahindra, ICICI Bank and NTPC.