Mumbai: A benchmark index of Indian equities markets is up on 8 August, trading 20 points higher in afternoon trade.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,638.53 points, was ruling at 17,622.17 points, 0.12 percent or 20.39 points up from 7 August close at 17,601.78 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 17,679.37 points and a low of 17,605.62 points. BSE midcap was up 9.42 points and the small cap was 11.53 points.

The BSE metal index was up 150.02 points, followed by the auto index, up 91.84 points.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was ruling 0.16 percent at 5,345 points.

The major Sensex gainers were Hindalco Inds, up 2.36 percent at 121.55; Mahindra & Mahindra, up 1.91 percent at 708.75; Jindal Steel, up 1.87 percent at 414.35; Tata Motors, up 1.51 percent at 242.35 and Sterlite Inds, up 1.44 percent at 105.80.

The main Sensex losers were Gail India, down 2.23 percent at 369; Bharti Airtel, down 2.13 percent at 287.55; ONGC, down 1.63 percent at 278.20; TCS, down 0.93 percent at 1,252.90 and Dr Reddys Lab, down 0.77 percent at 1,644.60.

Among other Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei was up 0.88 percent while Shanghai's composite index was 0.16 percent higher. Hong Kong's Hang Seng was down 0.25 percent.