Mumbai: Opening after a two-day gap, Indian equities markets rallied strongly on opening Friday with a benchmark index soaring over 536 points in early trade. Hopes of an end to the rate tightening cycle by the Reserve Bank of India, boosted investor sentiments at leading bourses. Positive cues from Asia also helped. The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened higher at 17,671.86 points, and rose within minutes to rule at 17,825.82 points, up 536.99 points or 3.1 percent from its previous close at 17,288.83 points. The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was also trading higher, 150.15 points or 2.89 percent up at 5,351.95 points. Broader markets were also in the green with the BSE 500 index up 2.42 percent. The BSE midcap index was up 1.28 percent, while the BSE small cap index was ruling 0.9 percent higher. Indian markets had been closed Wednesday, except for an hour long muhurat trading session, and Thursday on account of holidays.