Mumbai, July 23 (IANS): A key index of the Indian equities markets rallied in the morning session Thursday, rising more than 324 points from its last closing figure, about 45 minutes into trading.

At 10.40 a.m., the 30-scrip benchmark index of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the Sensex, which opened higher at 15,008.78 points, was at 15,167.2 points -- 324.08 points or 2.18 percent higher than Wednesday's closing figure.

The S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) too was ruling in the green, 2.31 percent up at 4,500.45 points.

Broader market indices were doing a tad better with the BSE midcap index trading 1.88 percent higher and the BSE smallcap index moving up 1.87 percent.

All the 13 sectoral indices on the BSE were ruling in the positive terrain, with those for consumer durables, realty, and FMCG stocks gaining the most.

The market breadth was positive, with 1,387 stocks rising compared to 466 declining. Ffity-seven remained unchanged.

Among prominent gainers on the Sensex at this time were Sterlite, up 4.86 percent at Rs.630.55; Hindalco, up 4.21 percent at Rs.89.10; ITC, up 3.83 percent at Rs.226.20; and Reliance Infra, up 3.47 percent at Rs.1,129.10.

There were only two losers: Sun Pharma, down 3.32 percent at Rs.1,213.05, Bharti Airtel, down 0.13 percent at Rs.821.80.

In other Asian markets, the Nikkei 225 Stock Average, a key index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, was ruling in the positive terrain Thursday at 9,853.28 points, up 130.12 points.

The Hang Seng, the primary index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, was also ruling firm at 19,696.97 points, up 448.80 points.