Sensex moves up further in afternoon (Second Lead)

MUMBAI - Trading picked up at Indian equities markets Friday about an hour before the closing bell as investors bought into capital goods, banking and IT stocks, pushing a key index up 281.56 points from its last closing figure.

Around 2.30 p.m., the benchmark index of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the Sensex, which opened at 14,373.57 points, was trading at 14,627.18 points - 281.56 points or 1.96 percent higher than Thursday’s close.

Similarly, the S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) gained 2.19 percent to stand at 4,334.65 points.

Broader market indices also gained, with the BSE midcap index gaining 1.88 percent from its previous close, while the BSE smallcap index moved up 1.56 percent.