The key domestic benchmark indices inched higher during the late noon trading session led by buying spree in index heavyweights including Tata Steel, Gail, Asian Paints and Maruti among others.

At 14:16 hours, the 30-share benchmark index was trading at 28594.86 up by 126.11 points or by 0.44 per cent, while the NSE Nifty was at 8860.5 up by 38.8 points or by 0.44 per cent.

Sentiments got some support with report that the GST council at its 10th meeting, chaired by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and comprising of representatives of all states and union territories cleared the Compensation Law that will legally provide for the Centre making up for any loss of revenue to states in first five years of rollout of Goods and Service Tax (GST) regime.

In the bullish trade so-far, Sensex touched an intraday high of 28652.91 and an intraday low of 28419.27, while the NSE Nifty touched an intraday high of 8863.95 and an intraday low of 8809.8.

The top gainers of the BSE Sensex pack were Tata Steel Ltd. (Rs. 485.55,+3.76%), GAIL (India) Ltd. (Rs. 523.70,+2.74%), Asian Paints Ltd. (Rs. 978.45,+1.82%), Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. (Rs. 6097.00,+1.80%), Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. (Rs. 206.00,+1.75%), among others.

The top losers of the BSE Sensex pack were Axis Bank Ltd. (Rs. 484.70,-0.88%), Housing Development Finance Corporation Ltd. (Rs. 1391.35,-0.76%), ITC Ltd. (Rs. 266.25,-0.75%), Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd. (Rs. 2900.10,-0.52%), Infosys Ltd. (Rs. 999.10,-0.06%), among others.

Among the sectors, Metal index was at 11854.69 up by 240.94 points or by 2.07%. Jindal Steel & Power Ltd. (Rs. 101.45,+9.14%), Tata Steel Ltd. (Rs. 485.55,+3.76%), Steel Authority of India (SAIL) Ltd. (Rs. 62.05,+3.59%), NMDC Ltd. (Rs. 139.95,+2.68%), Vedanta Ltd. (Rs. 270.25,+2.60%),.

On the flip side, FMCG index was at 8833.66 down by 0.6 points or by 0.01%. DFM Foods Ltd. (Rs. 1844.95,-2.26%), Tilak Nagar Industries Ltd. (Rs. 14.45,-1.30%), KRBL Ltd. (Rs. 370.00,-1.10%), Pioneer Distilleries Ltd. (Rs. 174.05,-0.83%), United Spirits Ltd. (Rs. 2346.40,-0.82%),.

The Market breadth, indicating the overall strength of the market, was weak. On BSE out of total shares traded 3042 , shares advanced were 1735 while 1118 shares declined and 189 were unchanged