Mumbai, Oct 9 (IANS): Rebounding after two-days of losses, a benchmark index of Indian equities markets Thursday gained around 250 points or 0.97 percent in the afternoon trade session, as banks, capital goods and healthcare stocks rose.

The benchmark index was initially up around 300 points or 1.13 percent in the early morning session.

Healthy buying was observed in oil and gas, metal and automobile sectors. All industry indices of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) were trading in the positive territory, except for fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) which sustained minor losses.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P BSE, which opened at 26,394.37 points, was trading at 26,500.50 points (at 12.00 p.m.) in the afternoon trade session, up 253.71 points or 0.97 percent from the previous day's close at 26,246.79 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 26,571.66 points and a low of 26,394.21 points in the trade so far.

The S&P BSE bank index was up 249.90 points, followed by capital goods index which was higher by 218.83 points, healthcare index lost 164.58 points, oil and gas index increased by 110.49 points and automobile index zoomed 69.91 points. However, FMCG index was down 3.23 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also made gains. It was up 74.80 points or 0.95 percent at 7,917.50 points.

According to Angel Broking, Indian markets opened positively tracking SGX Nifty and Asian markets. Late Wednesday saw US stocks rising after the Federal Reserve's hinted that interest rates will stay near zero level for "considerable time".