Mumbai, Jul 13 (IANS): After falling sharply the previous session, a benchmark index for the Indian equities markets was ruling 159 points higher Wednesday.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) which opened at 18,468.82 points, was ruling at 18,570.46 points, up 158.84 points or 0.86 percent from its previous close at 18,411.62 points.

The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was trading 0.87 percent higher at 5,574.15 points.

Broader markets too were ruling in the green with the BSE midcap index 1.02 percent up and the BSE smallcap index up 0.99 percent.

The market breadth was negative with 1,751 stocks advancing, 795 on the decline and 82 remaining unchanged.

Consumer durables, realty and oil and gas stocks were among the top gainers. IT stocks were ruling dull at this time.

Among the gainers on the Sensex were DLF, Bharti Airtel, ONGC and RIL, while the losers included Wipro, Infosys, Hindustan Unilever and HDFC.

Asian markets were mostly in the green.

The Nikkei of the Japanese stock exchange was ruling 0.37 percent up at 9,963.14 points.

The Hang Seng of the Hong Kong stock exchange was ruling 1.01 percent up at 21,882.44 points, while the Chinese Shanghai composite index was ruling 1.42 percent up at 2,793.69 points.