Mumbai, July 23 - A key index of the Indian equities markets rallied in the morning session Thursday, rising more than 324 points from its last closing figure, about 45 minutes into trading.

At 10.40 a.m., the 30-scrip benchmark index of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the Sensex, which opened higher at 15,008.78 points, was at 15,167.2 points -- 324.08 points or 2.18 percent higher than Wednesday's closing figure.

The S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) too was ruling in the green, 2.31 percent up at 4,500.45 points.

Broader market indices were doing a tad better with the BSE midcap index trading 1.88 percent higher and the BSE smallcap index moving up 1.87 percent.

All the 13 sectoral indices on the BSE were ruling in the positive terrain, with those for consumer durables, realty, and FMCG stocks gaining the most.