Mumbai, Aug 13 - A key index of the Indian equities markets was holding on to its gains Thursday, ruling 310 points higher early afternoon.

At 1.40 p.m., the 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 15,207.96 points, was trading at 15,330.52 points, up 310.36 points or 2.07 percent.

The Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) too was in the green at 4,551.15 points, up 2.1 percent.

Broader market indices were also in the positive terrain with the BSE midcap index 2.71 percent up, while the the BSE smallcap index was trading 3.34 percent higher.