Mumbai, May 9 - A benchmark index of Indian equities markets gained nearly one and a half percent during the pre-noon trade session Friday, as banks, capital goods and automobile stocks rallied.

However, healthcare stocks came under sustained selling pressure.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 22,374.98 points, was trading at 22,613.77 points in the pre-noon session, up 269.73 points or 1.21 percent from the previous day's close at 22,344.04 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 22,618.42 points and a low of 22,317.18 points in trade so far.

The S&P BSE bankex gained 285.28 points, capital goods index was up 230.45 points, followed by automobile index which was higher by 125.63 points, metal index rose 121.31 points and oil and gas index was up 103.92 points.

However, healthcare index was down 38.25 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also made healthy gains. It was up 83.60 points or 1.26 percent up at 6,743.45 points. (IANS)