Mumbai, Aug 29 - A benchmark index of Indian equities markets gained 276.03 points or 1.53 percent during pre-noon trade Thursday as the rupee rebounded after hitting a record low on Wednesday.

After falling to a record low of 68.75 against a dollar, the rupee rebounded after the Reserve Bank of India's move to provide dollars directly to oil companies. The rupee was trading at 67.71 against a dollar at 11.17 a. m.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,073.66 points, was trading at 18,272.18 points in the pre-noon session, up 276.03 points or 1.53 percent from the previous day's close at 17,996.15 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 18,293.22 points and a low of 18,071.22 points during trade so far.

Almost all the sectors were trading in the green, except the realty sector. The rally was led by consumer durables, capital goods, oil and gas, banking index (bankex) and metal sectors.

The S&P BSE consumer durables index surged 120.94 points, capital goods index moved upwards by 143.12 points, oil and gas index increased by 114.23 points, bankex went up by 127.39 points and metal index moved up by 74.33 points. However, the realty index dropped by 10.99 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also trading up by 72.90 points or 1.38 percent at 5,357.90 points. (IANS)