Mumbai, Oct 21 (IANS): A benchmark index of Indian equities markets closed Tuesday's trade up 146 points (provisional) or 0.55 percent as banks, capital goods and metals stocks gained.

Healthy buying was observed in automobile and consumer durable sectors, while selling pressure was seen in oil and gas and healthcare.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 26,552.45 points, closed the day's trade 26,575.65 points (provisional), up 145.80 points or 0.55 percent from the previous day's close at 26,429.85 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 26,615.41 points and a low of 26,407 points in intra-trade.

The S&P bank index gained 223.04 points, capital goods index increased by 200.84 points, metal moved up by 188.90 points, automobile index was higher by 113.23 points and consumer durables index rose by 110.62 points.

However, oil and gas index dropped by 82.87 points and healthcare index shed 17.38 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) closed trade up 48.35 points or 0.61 percent at 7,927.75 points.