Mumbai, Oct 11 (IANS) A benchmark index of Indian equities Monday soared in opening trade, tracking gains in other Asian markets.

The 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) shot up more than 200 points within minutes of the opening bell to touch 20,461.27 points.

It later settled about 155 points or 0.77 percent up at 20,405.76 points. It had closed Friday at 20,250.27 points.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was trading at 6,147.45 points, up 0.72 percent.

Broader markets were doing relatively better. The BSE midcap was trading 0.95 percent up and the BSE smallcap index 1.21 percent higher.

Other Asian markets moved up with handsome gains on optimism that the US Federal Reserve would step in to support a faltering economic recovery in the world’s largest economy.