Mumbai, Aug 14 (IANS): A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was Thursday trading 178.31 points or 0.69 percent up as bank, capital goods stocks rallied.

Nearly all the sectors were trading in green, except information technology (IT) and technology, entertainment and media (TECK).

Healthy buying was observed in banking, capital goods, metal, healthcare, oil and gas and consumer durables sectors.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 25,948.30 points, was trading at 26,097.26 points (at 2.20 p.m.), up 178.31 points or 0.69 percent from the previous day's close at 25,918.95 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 26,108.26 points and a low of 25,945.35 points in the trade so far.

The S&P BSE bankex gained 219.51 points, capital goods index got augmented by 192.30 points, metal index increased by 189.44 points, healthcare index inched up by 135.23 points, oil and gas index was up 118.40 points and consumer durables index rose 107.51 points.

The information technology (IT) index was down 6.24 points and TECK index was lower by 4.11 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also trading 49.80 points or 0.64 percent up at 7,789.35 points.