Mumbai, Nov 29 (IANS): A benchmark index for Indian equities markets Thursday was up 247 points following healthy buying in banks, automobiles, metals, capital goods and oil and gas stocks.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,873.63 points, was ruling at 19,089.21 points around 2.00 p.m., up 247.13 points or 1.31 percent from its previous close at 18,842.08 points.

The benchmark index touched a high of 19,110.28 points and low of 18,873.63 points intra-day. The BSE midcap index was up 74.66 points, the smallcap index was higher by 41.68 points.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was up 73.10 points or 1.28 percent at 5,800.55 points.

The bank index was up 213.29 points, while the auto index edged higher by 206.45 points, followed by capital goods index, up 157.27 points, metals index, up 135.97 points and oil and gas index, higher by 98.03 points.

However, information technology (IT) and media, entertainment and communication stocks were down. The IT index was down 23.59 points and media, entertainment and communication (TECk) was at 4.47 points lower.

Among other Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei rose 0.99 percent and Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 0.99 percent. However, China's Shanghai Composite Index was down 0.51 percent.