Mumbai, Jan 3 (IANS): Strong buying across the market breadth helped a benchmark index for Indian equities rule over 341 points higher -- close to its day's high -- in afternoon trade Tuesday. Gainers were led by metals and banking stocks.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 15,640.56 points, was ruling at 15,859.1 points, 341.18 points or 2.2 percent up, from its previous close at 15,517.92 points.

The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also shot up and was ruling at 4,741.45 points, up 2.26 percent or 104.7 points from its previous close.

Broader markets also gained with the BSE 500 index soaring 2.17 percent. The BSE midcap index rose 1.95 percent while the BSE smallcap index was ruling 1.96 percent higher.

All 13 sectoral indices on the BSE were in the green.

The market breadth was positive with 1,835 stocks advancing, compared to 682 on the decline. Another 109 remained unchanged.