A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was trading 0.96 percent higher in the afternoon session Friday led by good buying support in automobile, banking and oil and gas stocks.
The recovery of the Indian rupee, which rose 14 paise to 55.66 against the dollar in early trade, also added to the bullish market sentiments.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 16,701.28 points, was trading at 16,837.41 points in the afternoon session, up 0.96 percent or 159.53 points from its previous close at 16,677.88 points.
The wider 50-scrip S&P; CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was trading 0.96 percent higher at 5,103.40 points.
The BSE consumer automobile index was up 152.12 points, the banking index was up 161.43 points and the oil and gas index was up 80.67 points.
Major Sensex gainers were Tata Motors, up 4.30 percent at Rs.236.75; Hero MotoCorp, up 2.67 percent at Rs.2,005.90; ICICI Bank, up 2.66 percent at Rs.841.20; Coal India, up 2.01 percent at Rs.337.60 and HDFC Bank, up 1.66 percent at Rs.543.25.
Major Sensex losers were Sterlite Inds, down 1.28 percent at Rs.100.55; Bajaj Auto, down 1.09 percent at Rs.1,532.25; ONGC, down 0.39 percent at Rs.266.50; NTPC, down 0.37 percent at Rs.147.85; HDFC, down 0.31 percent at Rs.642.60; BHEL, down 0.12 percent at Rs.217.
