Mumbai, May 16 (IANS): The Indian equity markets touched record intra-highs during the early morning trade session on Tuesday.

According to market observers, healthy buying was witnessed in consumer durables, automobile and banking stocks.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE gained by 156.54 points or 0.52 per cent, while the wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) rose by 35 points or 0.37 per cent to 9,480.40 points.

The Sensex of the BSE, which opened at 30,391.48 points, was trading at 30,478.66 points (at 9.30 a.m.), higher by 156.54 points or 0.52 per cent from the previous day's close at 30,322.12 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 30,490.42 points and a low of 30,363.37 points during the intra-day trade so far.

On May 11, the benchmark indices had touched record intra-day highs, as well as new 52-week highs. The Nifty scaled a new intra-day high of 9,450.65 points and the BSE Sensex of 30,366.43 points.