At the stock markets, the Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange consolidated initial gains, and had climbed 225 points, to 27,005 in afternoon trade, a short while ago. Earlier in the morning, the Sensex had added 168 points. Similarly, the Nifty at the National Stock Exchange had advanced 74 points, to 8,182 a short while ago. Other key Asian markets in Japan, China, Hong Kong, South Korea and Singapore had gained between 1 percent and 2.3 percent. At the forex market, the rupee pared its early gains, but was still trading 20 paise stronger, at 64.83 against the dollar in late morning deals.