From correspondents in Maharashtra, India, 01:30 PM IST

The Indian equity markets which started Wednesday with a gain were trading firm early afternoon.

At 12:30 p.m., the 30-share benchmark index of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the Sensex, was up 229.08 points or 1.54 percent to 15,118.33. It had earlier touched a high of 15,223.54.

The market breadth was positive. On BSE 1,686 shares advanced, 718 declined and 60 remained unchanged.

At the same time, the broader based S and amp;P CNX Nifty index of the National Stock Exchange was up by 56.70 points or 1.27 percent to 4,506.50.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)