Mumbai, Sep 6 (IANS): A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was trading 80 points higher in late afternoon trade Thursday on strong global cues. IT, auto and banking stocks were among the best performers.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,320.73 points, was ruling at 17,393.42 points, 0.46 percent or 80.08 points up from its previous day's close at 17,313.34 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 17,416.18 points and a low of 17,294.74 points in intra-day trade.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was ruling 0.54 percent up at 5,253.90 points.

On the sectoral front, the BSE IT index was up 144.04 points, auto index was up 84.60 points and the banking index was up 100.04 points.

Wipro was the biggest gainer and was trading 4.07 percent higher at Rs.376.20.

The other major gainers were Infosys, up 3.53 percent at Rs.2,421; Tata Motors, up 2.27 percent at Rs.233.90; Jindal Steel, up 2.08 percent at Rs.343; and NTPC, up 2.08 percent at Rs.172.

The main Sensex losers were BHEL, down 2.64 percent at Rs.202.50; ITC, down 2.56 percent at Rs.261.15; Bharti Airtel, down 1.94 percent at Rs.252.85; Hindustan Unilever, down 0.84 percent at Rs.526.45; and Hero MotoCorp, down 0.56 percent at Rs.1,798.15

Among other Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei was up 0.01 percent while Shanghai's composite index was trading 0.70 percent higher. Hong Kong's Hang Seng was up 0.34 percent.

European markets were trading higher too. France's CAC was up 1.06 percent and so was Germany's DAX, up by 1.31 percent. Britain's FTSE 100 was trading 0.74 percent higher.