Mumbai, Apr 30 (IANS): A benchmark index for Indian equities markets was trading 160.85 points higher in the afternoon session Monday, led by good buying support for information technology (IT) and bank scrips.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened in the positive at 17,195.51 points, was ruling at 17,348.19 points around noon, up 0.94 percent or 160.85 points from its previous close at 17,187.34 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 17,359.18 points and low of 17,195.51points in the intra-day trade. The Sensex midcap was up 37.83 points and the smallcap grew by 50.52 points.

The broad-based 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was trading 0.94 percent or 48.75 up at 5,257.75 points.

All Sensex sectoral indices were up, with banks' indices gaining 165.79 points, followed by metals which increased by 115.45 points and IT which was up 113.38 points.

Prominent Sensex gainers were reality major DLF, up 3.43 percent at Rs.188.40; TCS, up 2.76 percent at Rs.1,236.15; Infosys, up 2.28 percent at Rs.2,541.50; ICICI Bank, up 2.00 percent at Rs.886.25 and SBI, up 1.55 percent at Rs.2,164.

Major Sensex losers included Maruti Suzuki, down 2.12 percent at Rs.1,367.50; BHEL, down 1.72 percent at Rs.225.40; Mahindra and Mahindra, down 0.94 percent at Rs.708; and Sun Pharma, down 0.16 percent at Rs.598.30.