Mumbai: A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was trading 66 points up in the late afternoon session, led by good buying in metal, IT and capital goods stocks.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,113.37 points, was ruling at 17171.86 points, up 0.39 percent or 66.56 points from its previous day's close at 17,105.30 points.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was ruling 0.30 percent higher at 5,208.50 points.

The major Sensex gainers were: Bajaj Auto, up 3.36 percent at 1,495.76; Tata Power, up 2.82 percent at 98.50; Jindal Steel, up 2.59 percent at 426.20; Sterlite Inds, up 2.58 percent at 103.50 and Coal India, up 1.64 percent at 360.05.

The major Sensex losers were: Dr Reddys Lab, down 2.38 percent at 1,663; Tata Motors, down 2.17 percent at 221; Hero MotoCorp, down 0.85 percent at 2,081.10; NTPC, down 0.79 percent at 157 and SBI, down 0.77 percent at 2,181.90.

Among other Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei was 0.32 percent down and Hong Kong's Hang Seng was 1.11 percent lower. China's Composite index was 0.37 percent up.