Mumbai, Feb 28 (IANS): A benchmark index for Indian equities markets was trading about half a percent up in the 10.30 a.m. trade session Thursday, just before Finance Minister P. Chidambaram presents the union budget 2013-14 to the Lok Sabha.

The markets were upbeat on the expectations that the finance minister will take measures to boost growth, control price rise and rein in fiscal deficit.

Capital goods, metal, bank, public sector undertakings (PSU) and automobile stocks rallied.

The 30 scrip Sensex of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 19,264.80 points, was ruling at 19,265.24 points, up 112.83 points or 0.59 percent from its previous close at 19,152.41 points.

The Sensex touched an intra-day high of 19,322.28 points and a low of 18,244.76 points. The midcap index was up 38.08 points, while the smallcap index was 37.62 points higher.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was trading higher by 32.75 points or 0.56 percent at 5,829.65 points.

All BSE sectoral indices were in the green.

The BSE capital goods index was up 130.95 points, followed by the metal index, which was trading higher by 82.78 points, bank index, up 77.42 points, PSU index, 65.02 points higher and the automobile index, up 64.17 points.