Mumbai, Sep 4 (IANS): A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was trading 49 points higher in late afternoon trade Tuesday with robust buying in realty, oil and gas and consumer durable stocks.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,378.68 points, was ruling at 17,433.56 points, 0.28 percent or 49.16 points up from its previous day's close at 17,384.40 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 17,450.76 points and a low of 17,308.27 points in intra-day trade.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was ruling 0.35 percent up at 5,271.90 points.

On the sectoral front, the BSE realty index was up 19.71 points as were the oil and gas index, up 87.77 points, and the consumer durable index, up 50.72 points.

The major Sensex gainers were Gail, up 2.32 percent at Rs.357.80; RIL, up 1.69 percent at Rs.777.15; Tata Steel, up 1.68 percent at Rs.364.05; Jindal Steel, up 1.61 percent at Rs.350; and SBI, up 1.42 percent at Rs.1,875.40.

The main losers were HDFC, down 1.59 percent at Rs.722; Cipla, down 1.40 percent at Rs.379.50; Tata Power, down 1.18 percent at Rs.96.55; Sun Pharma, down 0.67 percent at Rs.663; and Bajaj Auto, down 0.52 percent at Rs.1,655.75.

Among other Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei was down 0.10 percent while the Shanghai composite index was down 0.75 percent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng was down 0.66 percent.

European markets were trading lower too. France's CAC was down 0.29 percent and so was Germany's DAX, down by 0.20 percent. Britain's FTSE 100 was trading 0.62 percent lower.