Mumbai, Jun 7 (IANS): A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was trading 149 points or 0.76 percent up during pre-afternoon trade Friday.

This upward movement has been facilitated by good buying trend in IT, healthcare, oil and gas, bankex stocks. Almost all the sectors showed upward movement except consumer durables.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 19,522.31 points, was trading at 19,668.38 points in the pre-noon session, up 148.89 points or 0.76 percent from its previous day's close at 19,519.49 points.

Sensex touched a high of 19,680.58 points and a low of 19,424.97 points in pre-noon trade.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was, however, trading flat at 0.36 percent or 21.35 points down at 5900.05 points.

The S&P BSE IT index moved up 113.25 points, healthcare index was up by 70.63 points, oil & gas increased by 64.25 points and bankex rose by 62.03 points. Only consumer durables index dipped by 10.08 points.