The key benchmark indices were trading lower in the afternoon deals today. The Sensex was down 54 points at 17,272 levels and the Nifty fell 0.3 per cent to 5,126.

While realty, metal and IT stocks gained, capital goods and oil & gas counters trended lower.

Among the Sensex stocks, Hindalco was the top gainer. The stock surged nearly 5 per cent today. Maruti, TCS and Wipro were the other major gainers in the pack.

M&M and RCom, however, were the biggest losers in the pack. M&M fell nearly 2.8 per cent and RCom shed 2.1 per cent.

Asian stock markets climbed on Tuesday as a rash of better-than-expected earnings reports from major US companies buttressed confidence in the world economy.

Japan's Nikkei 225 stock average gained 100.33, or 1 percent, to 10,336.84, and Hong Kong's index rose 176.12, or 0.8 percent, to 22,376.58.

South Korea's main index added 0.4 percent to 1,655.63. Elsewhere, China's Shanghai's benchmark climbed 1 percent, Australia's index advanced 1.1 percent and Thailand's market traded higher by 0.5 percent.