Mumbai, Feb 21 - A benchmark index of Indian equities markets gained 149.57 points or 0.73 percent in the pre-noon trade Friday.

Good buying was observed in banking, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), oil and gas and metal sectors.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 20,600.58 points, was trading at 20,686.21 points in the pre-noon session, up 149.57 points or 0.73 percent from the previous day's close at 20,536.64 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 20,725.04 points and a low of 20,599.91 points during the trade so far.

The S&P BSE bankex gained 133.86 points, FMCG index went up by 70.82 points, oil and gas index got augmented by 79.08 points and metal index inched up by 67.04 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) gained 47.10 points or 0.77 percent at 6,138.55 points. (IANS)