SME Times News Bureau | 15 Feb, 2012
A benchmark index for the equities markets Wednesday continued to build on its morning gains, and was ruling over 320 points higher about an hour before closing bell.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) opened at 18,000.3 points, and was ruling at 18,168.59 points, 320.02 points or 1.79 percent up from its previous close at 17,848.57 points.

The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was trading higher at 5,521.2 points, up 105.15 points or 1.94 percent from its previous close.

Broader markets were also in the green, with the BSE 500 index trading 1.81 percent up. The BSE midcap index was up 1.92 percent while the BSE smallcap index gained 1.16 percent.

Realty, auto and capital goods stocks were among the major gainers.