Mumbai, July 17 (IANS) A benchmark index of Indian equities markets rose 52 points in late afternoon session Tuesday, led by good buying in health care, FMCG and banking stocks.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,176.93 points, was ruling at 17,155.94 points, up 0.31 percent or 52.63 points from its previous day close at 17,103.31 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 17,236.08 points.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was ruling 0.21 percent higher at 5,208.30 points.

The BSE health care index was up 79.30 points. And so were FMCG index, up 43.95 points, and banking index, up 33.49 points.

The major Sensex gainers were: Dr Reddys Lab, up 2.54 percent at Rs.1,718; Bharti Airtel, up 2.49 percent at Rs.327.60; ; Sun Pharma, up 2.05 percent at Rs.633.70; and Hindalco Inds, up 1.48 percent at Rs.120.15.

The losers were: Bajaj Auto, down 3.06 percent at Rs.1,437.85; TCS, down 2.03 percent at Rs.1,185.60; BHEL, down 0.72 percent at Rs.228.35; Sterlite Inds, down 0.69 percent at Rs.100.80; Tata Motors, down 0.61 percent at Rs.227.90.

Among other Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei was 0.35 percent up and Hong Kong's Hang Seng was 1.75 percent higher. China's Composite index was 0.62 percent up.