Mumbai, Sep 4 - After plunging 650 points a day ago, a benchmark index of Indian equities markets Wednesday surged by 354.32 points or 1.94 percent during pre-noon trade.

The rally was led by oil and gas, metal, auto, banking index (bankex), consumer durables, public sector undertakings (PSU), IT, healthcare and capital goods sectors. However, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) and realty sectors were trading marginally down.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,314.68 points, was trading at 18,588.98 points in the pre-noon session, up 354.32 points or 1.94 percent from the previous day's close at 18,234.66 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 18,607.23 points and a low of 18,188.43 points during the trade so far.

The S&P BSE oil and gas index surged 248.48 points, metal index swelled by 217.19 points, auto index moved up by 273.24 points, bankex gained 245.23 points, consumer durables increased by 122.74 points, PSU index inched up by 104.07 points, IT index gained 156.70 points, healthcare index augmented by 172.20 points and capital goods index went up by 122.35 points.

However, FMCG index dropped by 5.35 points and realty index went down by 10.55 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also trading 105.10 points or 1.97 percent up at 5,446.55 points. (IANS)