Mumbai, Aug. 21 -- The domestic equity indices traded with decent gains in the early-afternoon trade, extending their five-day rally on hopes of a potential GST rate cut. However, investors remained cautious ahead of the US Federal Reserve's annual symposium, awaiting signals on the future direction of interest rates.

The Nifty traded above the 25,050 mark. Oil & gas shares advanced after declining in the past trading session. Trading activity may be volatile today as markets brace for the weekly expiry of Nifty50 futures and options contracts.

At 12:30 ST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, added 200.56 points or 0.25% to 82,058.40. The Nifty 50 index rose 41.35 points or 0.17% to 25,091.90.

The broader market outperformed the f...