Mumbai, Feb 3 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities soared in the morning session of Wednesday's trade and, about two hours after opening bell, was ruling 301 points higher than its previous close.

Around 10.53 a.m., the 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 16,210.25 points, was at 16,464.85 points, up 301.41 points or 1.86 percent from its previous close at 16,163.44 points.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was at 4,925.9 points, against the previous close at 4,830.1 points, a gain of 1.98 percent or 95.8 points.

Broader market indices were also trading higher, with the BSE midcap index up 1.43 percent and the BSE small cap index trading 1.54 percent higher.

Other major Asian markets were trading in the green as well, with the benchmark Japanese index, Nikkei, ruling 0.22 percent higher at 10,393.6 points, and the Hang Seng of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange up 1.29 percent at 20,533.34 points.

The Chinese Shanghai composite index too was in the positive terrain, at 2,949.73 points, 0.51 percent up, while the Korean Kospi was ruling 1.05 percent higher at 1,612.57 points.