Mumbai, May 18 (IANS): A benchmark index of the Indian equities markets, the 30-scrip BSE Sensitive Index (Sensex), was trading 117.52 points or 0.43 percent up during the afternoon session on Monday.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also was trading 40.90 points or 0.50 percent up at 8,303.25 points.

The Sensex of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 27,416.97 points, was trading at 27,441.52 points (at 1.20 p.m.) -- up 117.52 points or 0.43 percent from the previous day's close at 27,324 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 27,517.31 points and a low of 27,370.28 points in the intra-day trade. Good buying was observed in the oil and gas, healthcare and consumer durables sectors, while selling pressure was seen in realty sector.

The S&P BSE oil and gas index increased by 1.58 percent, healthcare index moved up by 1.09 percent and consumer durables index got augmented by 0.91 percent. However, realty index dropped by 0.38 percent.