Mumbai, Oct 10 (IANS): A benchmark index for Indian equities soared two percent Monday led by strong buying support in realty, auto, IT and oil and gas stocks.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened in the positive at 16,270.07 points, closed at 16,557.23 points, up two percent or 324.69 points from its previous close at 16,232.54 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 16,595.93 points and the low of 16,230.77 points in the intra-day.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty closed 2.06 percent higher at 4,988.55 points.

Broader markets as well as most sectoral indices also closed in the positive. The BSE midcap index ended the day 1.45 percent higher at 6,045.63 points and the BSE smallcap index closed one percent up at 6,788.56 points.

Among the sectoral indices of the BSE, reality index soared 3.29 percent and consumer durables index rose three percent. IT and oil and gas indices closed with gains of nearly three percent.

Tata Motors soared 6.8 percent at Rs.169.60. Tata Power surged 5.03 percent at Rs.103.30. DLF, up 4.99 percent at Rs.229.35; Wipro, up 4.61 percent at Rs.349.20; Bajaj Auto, up 3.81 percent at Rs.1,561.10; and Sterlite Inds, up 3.66 percent at Rs.117.60 were among the other prominent gainers.

Only five of the 30 Sensex scrips closed in the red. Maruti Suzuki slumped 3.58 percent at Rs.1,073.20 on concerns over complicating labour problems.