Mumbai, Aug 6 (IANS): A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was trading 225.14 points up around 11.30 a.m. Monday, as there was good buying spree in oil and gas, bank, capital goods and auto stocks as well as strong global cues after reports of a surge in US hiring.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,313.05 points, was ruling at 17,423.07 points, 1.31 percent or 225.14 points up from its previous day's close at 17,197.93 points.

Sensex touched a high of 17,448.42 points and a low of 17,313.05 points. BSE midcap was up 68.60 points and small cap was up 89.85 points.

The BSE oil and gas index was up 213.25 points, followed by bank index, up 175.39 points, capital goods, up 161.04 points and auto index up 150.52 point.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was ruling 1.28 percent or 66.65 points up at 5,282.35 points.

The major Sensex gainers were Reliance Industries, up 4.62 percent at Rs.777.25; Tata Motors, up 3.30 percent at Rs.2282.0; Tata Steel, up 2.42 percent at Rs.406.55; Larsen and Toubro (L&T), up 2.12 percent at Rs.1,411.50 and Sterlite Inds, up 1.86 percent at Rs.103.95.

Only five of the 30-scrip sensitive Sensex were main losers -- Dr Reddys Lab, down 0.66 percent at Rs.1,661; Tata Consultation Services (TCS), down 0.58 percent at Rs.1,230.70; Coal India, down 0.49 percent at Rs.342.25, Hindustan Uniliver, down 0.22 percent at Rs.466.10 and ITC 0.13 percent at Rs.259.

Among other Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei was up 2.11 percent while Shanghai's composite index was 0.73 percent higher. Hong Kong's Hang Seng was up 1.91 percent.