Mumbai, May 2 (IANS): A benchmark index for Indian equities markets was trading 70.90 points higher in the afternoon session Wednesday, led by good buying support for consumer durables, bank and information technology (IT) stocks.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened in the positive at 17,370.93 points, was ruling at 17,389.71 points around noon, up 0.41 percent or 70.90 points from its previous close at 17,318.81 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 17,432.33 points and low of 17,367 points in the intra-day trade. The Sensex midcap was up 28.09 points and the smallcap grew by 46.47 points.

The broad-based 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was trading 0.35 percent or 18.50 points up at 5,266.65 points.

The consumer durables' sectoral index was up 119.49 points and the banks' index gained 99.72 points, followed by the metals index which increased by 53.28 points and the IT index, which was up 50.87 points.

Prominent Sensex gainers were FMCG major Hindustan Unilever, up 2.73 percent at Rs.427.70; Jindal Steel, up 1.93 percent at Rs.512.40; Bharti Airtel, up 1.85 percent at Rs.316.50; DLF, up 1.71 percent at Rs.190.10 and TCS, up 1.61 percent at Rs.1,265.

Major Sensex losers included Tatat Motors, down 2.08 percent at Rs.310.15; Maruti Suzuki, down 1.51 percent at Rs.1,349.25; ONGC, down 1.11 percent at Rs.266.70; and Coal India, down 0.94 percent at Rs.349.25.