Mumbai, Oct 1 (IANS): A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was trading 58 points higher in late afternoon trade Monday. IT and auto stocks were among the best performers.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,784.64 points, was ruling at 18,820.49 points, 57.75 points or 0.31 percent up from its previous day's close at 18,762.74 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 18,831.70 points and a low of 18,745.28 points in intra-day trade. The BSE midcap index was up 53.50 points while the smallcap index was 82.51 points high.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was also ruling 0.21 percent up at 5,715.20 points.

On the sectoral front, the BSE IT was up 80.08 points and auto index was up 84.53 points.

Major Sensex gainers were Tata Mtors, up 2.64 percent at Rs.274.50; Jindal Steel, 2.57 percent at Rs.438.50; Infosys, up 2.31 percent at Rs.2,592.55; Hindalco Inds, up 1.91 percent at Rs.122.80 and NTPC, up 1.46 percent at Rs.170.30.

The main losers were Tata Power, down 0.94 percent at Rs.105.95; Bajaj Auto, down 0.90 percent at Rs.1,816; ONGC, down 0.77 percent at Rs.278.25; HDFC Bank, 0.75 percent at Rs.624 and Coal India, down 0.54 percent at Rs.357.50.

Among other Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei was down 0.83 percent while Hong Kong's Hang Seng was trading 0.38 percent higher. Shanghai's composite index was also up 1.45 percent.