Mumbai, April 3 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities markets was trading 150 points higher in the afternoon session Tuesday, led by good buying support in oil and gas, banking and metal stocks.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened in the positive at 17,576.21 points, was ruling 17,628.18 points just after the noon trade, up 0.86 percent or 150.03 points from its previous close at 17,478.15 points.
The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was trading 0.82 percent higher at 5,361.30 points.
There was good buying support in oil and gas, consumer durables, banking and metal stocks.
The BSE oil and gas index was ruling 2.04 percent higher. The consumer durables index was up 1.91 percent, banking index was ruling 1.75 percent higher and the metal index was trading with a gain of 1.41 percent.