NEW DELHI: The BSE Midcap index was outpacing benchmark Sensex during the first half of Friday's trade.

The midcap index was 0.82 per cent up at 15,789, while the Sensex was 0.54 per cent up at 34,849 around 10:40 am. The Nifty50 index was 0.51 per cent up at 10,568 around the same time.

United Breweries (up 5.79 per cent) was the top gainer in the midcap index.

It was followed by NBCC (India) (up 3.65 per cent), Exide Industries (up 3.38 per cent) and Future Retail (up 2.82 per cent).

Adani Power (up 2.65 per cent), Torrent Power (up 2.56 per cent), Mphasis (up 2.50 per cent) and Page Industries (up 2.41 per cent) also found themselves among the gainers.

On the other hand, Vakrangee (down 4.99 per cent) continued its fall, emerging as the top loser in the index.

GE T&D India (down 2.78 per cent), Rajesh Exports (down 2.24 per cent), GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals (down 2.18 per cent) and Reliance Nippon Life Asset Management (down 1.14 per cent) also declined in trade.

Equity benchmarks were in the positive territory despite weak global cues.

Gains in IT, bank, financial, metal and auto stocks were keeping the key indices up.

Tata Steel, Infosys and Tata Motors were the top gainers in the Sensex index.