Mumbai, Nov 29 (IANS): Indian equities markets were lifted by value buying during the early morning trade session on Tuesday.

Both the key indices -- which opened on a flat-to-positive note -- traded with gains of almost half a per cent each, with healthy buying witnessed in metal, automobile, and oil and gas stocks.

The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) gained 32.60 points or 0.40 per cent, to trade at 8,159.50 points.

The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 26,408.62 points, traded at 26,470.78 points (at 9.30 a.m.) -- up 120.61 points or 0.46 per cent from the previous close at 26,350.17 points.

The Sensex has touched a high of 26,472.62 points and a low of 26,357.56 points during the intra-day trade so far.

The BSE market breadth was skewed in favour of the bulls -- with 1,150 advances and 277 declines.

On Monday, the benchmark indices had ended on a flat note on the back of value buying and short covering.

The barometer index had risen by 33.83 points or 0.13 per cent, while the NSE Nifty was up by 12.60 points or 0.16 per cent.