Mumbai, Nov 14 (IANS): A benchmark index of Indian equities markets gained more than a percent Thursday after falling for seven straight days. Banking stocks were the main gainers.

The 30-scrip S&P Sensex of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 20,351.39 points, closed at 20,399.42 points, gaining 205.02 points or 1.02 percent from its previous day close at 20,194.40 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 20,568.99 points and a low of 20,348.27 points intra-day.

The S&P BSE bank index higher by 319.35 points, capital goods index lost 163.95 points and metal index was up by 127.50 points.

However, healthcare index decreased by 37.804 points, IT index was lower by 9.28 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) closed trade at 1.11 percent up or 66.55 points higher at 6,056.15 points.

Major Sensex gainers were: Tata Motors, up 5.52 percent at Rs.385.95; Tata Steel, up 4.58 percent at Rs.375.30; ICICI Bank, up 3.58 percent at Rs.1,049.75; Mahindra and Mahindra, 3.36 percent at Rs.925.35; and Hero MotoCorp, up 2.37 percent at Rs.2,047.40.

The main losers were: Coal India, down 3.81 percent at Rs.274.10; Cipla, down 2.05 percent at Rs.404.10; Sun Pharma, down 1.34 percent at Rs.599.65; Tata Consultancy Service (TCS), down 1.29 percent at Rs.2,025.75; and Gail India, down 1.04 percent at Rs.320.20.

Among the Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 2.12 percent higher, China's Shanghai Composite Index was up by 0.82 percent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng was 0.60 percent up.

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