Mumbai, May 29 (IANS): A benchmark index for Indian equities markets was trading almost 100 points up in the afternoon session Tuesday, led by good buying support in IT, auto and banking stocks.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened in the positive at 16,500.04 points, was ruling at 16,516.76 points in the afternoon session, up 0.61 percent or 99.92 points from its previous close at 16,416.84 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 16,518.24 points and low of 16,410.23 points in the intra-day trade.

The wide-based 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was ruling 0.44 percent higher at 5,007.40 points.

There was good buying support in IT, auto and banking stocks.

IT index of the BSE was ruling 1.32 percent higher. Auto index was up 0.97 percent.

SBI rallied 2.08 percent at Rs.2144. Maruti Suzuki was up 2.03 percent at Rs.1126.10.

Other major Sensex gainers were: TCS, up 1.82 percent at Rs.1246; Tata Motors, up 1.75 percent at Rs.281.45; BHEL, up 1.29 percent at Rs.219.90; Coal India, up 1.24 percent at Rs.318.95; and Tata Steel, up 1.21 percent at Rs.416.75.

Only five of the 30 Sensex scrips were in the negative. ITC was down 1.09 percent at Rs.232.30, and Bharti Airtel was down 0.63 percent at Rs.300.40.