Mumbai, Dec 17 (Inditop.com) A benchmark index of the Indian equities markets Thursday was trading volatile, though in a tight range, and was ruling 24 points higher a little over an hour before closing bell.

At 2.16 p.m., the 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) — which opened at 16,912.25 points — was ruling at 16,939.95 points, up 27.18 points or 0.16 percent from its previous close at 16,912.77 points.

It was trading in a narrow 150 point band having fallen to a low of 16,826 points and risen to a high of 16,979.52 points.

Around the same time, at the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was at 5,052.9 points, against the previous close at 5,042.05 points, a gain of 0.22 percent or 10.85 points.

Broader market indices were still in the green, with the BSE midcap index ruling 0.96 percent higher and the BSE small cap index up 1.02 percent up.

The market breadth was tilted towards the positive, with 1,710 stocks advancing, 1,007 scrips declining and 87 remaining unchanged.