Mumbai, Apr 2 (IANS): A benchmark index for Indian equities markets was trading more than half a percent up in late afternoon trade Tuesday owing to healthy buying spree in capital goods, metal and oil and gas stocks. However, realty and automobile scrips were hit.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened in the red at 18,863.82 points, was trading at 19,002.91 points in the late afternoon session, up 138.16 points or 0.73 percent from its previous day's close at 18,864.75 points.

The Sensex slumped to a low of 18,826.53 points in intra-day trade and touched a high of 19,004.70 points.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was trading 0.59 percent or 33.90 points up at 5,738.50 points in the afternoon session.

The BSE capital goods index was up 150.12 points, followed by metal index, higher by 148.90 points, and the oil and gas index, which gained by 146.79 points.

The realty index was down 15.59 points and automobile index declined by 13.24 points.