Sensex moves up 172 points in pre-noon session

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was trading at 0.89 percent or 172 points up during the pre-noon session Friday.

Almost all the sectors, except consumer durables, were trading in the green, riding on improved sentiments. The rally was led by oil and gas, capital goods, banking (bankex) and metals sectors.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 19,568.79 points, was trading at 19,582.84 points in the pre-noon session, up 172 points or 0.89 percent from its previous day's close at 19,410.84 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 19,640.27 points and a low of 19,532.13 points in the pre-noon trade.

The S&P BSE oil and gas index moved up by 132.38 points, the capital goods index surged by 109.61 points, the bankex went up by 131.17 points and metals inched up by 95.12 points; while consumer durables dipped by 6.14 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also trading 0.90 percent or 52.65 points up at 5,889.60 points.