Mumbai, Apr 3 (IANS): A benchmark index for Indian equities markets climbed 119 points Tuesday, led by good buying support in oil and gas, banking and metal stocks.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened in the positive at 17,576.21 points, ended the day at 17,597.42 points, up 0.68 percent or 119.27 points from its previous close at 17,478.15 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 17,664.10 points in the intra-day.

The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange closed 0.76 percent or 40.60 points higher at 5,358.50 points.

There was good buying support in oil and gas, consumer durables, banking and metal stocks.

The BSE consumer durables index advanced 2.14 percent to 6,793.76 points. The oil and gas index rose 1.56 percent, metal index rallied 1.38 percent and the banking index 1.22 percent higher.

Broader markets indices also closed in the positive. The BSE midcap index rose 0.95 percent and the smallcap index closed 1.14 percent higher.

Major Sensex gainers were: Hindalco Inds, up 3.25 percent at Rs.131.80; Sterlite Inds, up 2.87 percent at Rs.112.85; SBI, up 1.95 percent at Rs.2,170.90; L&T, up 1.93 percent at Rs.1,358.05; ICICI Bank, up 1.87 percent at Rs.907.55 and RIL, up 1.57 percent at Rs.752.45.

Only nine of the 30 Sensex scrips closed in the red. Hero MotoCorp, down 2.25 percent at Rs.2,009.90; Maruti Suzuki, down 2.12 percent at Rs.1,308.50; Sun Pharma, down 1.04 percent at Rs.568.30 and TCS, down 1.04 percent at Rs.1,178.95 were among the prominent Sensex losers.