By IANS,
Mumbai: A benchmark index of the Indian equities markets inched upwards Thursday to end about 75 points higher than its previous close.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,525.71 points, ended trade at 17,584.87 points, up 75.07 points or 0.43 percent from its previous close at 17,509.8 points.
At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty ended at 5,259.9 points, against the previous close at 5,233.95 points, a gain of 0.5 percent.
Broader market indices also closed higher, with the BSE midcap index up 0.86 percent and the BSE small cap index trading 1.2 percent higher.
The market breadth was positive with 1,929 stocks advancing, compared to 980 on the decline and 66 remaining unchanged.
Among the top gainers at this time were Reliance Communications, up 4.07 percent at Rs.182.80; Wipro, up 3.61 percent at Rs.741.30; RIL, up 2.99 percent at Rs.1,120.85; and ONGC, up 2.94 percent at Rs.1,230.45.
Among top Sensex losers were Hindustan Unilever, down 2.86 percent at Rs.256; Tata Power, down 2.23 percent at Rs.1,455.45; Reliance Infra, down 1.25 percent at Rs.1,124.85; and Hero Honda, down 1.22 percent at Rs.1,617.20.
Other Asian markets too closed in the green, with the benchmark Japanese index, Nikkei, ending 1.61 percent higher at 10,907.68 points after consumer goods companies saw renewed buying interest.
The Chinese Shanghai composite index too shut shop higher at 3,215.55 points, up 1.35 percent, while the Korean Kospi closed at 1,685.77, up 0.86 percent.
However, the Hang Seng of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange closed marginally lower amid volatile trade at 21,716.95 points, down 0.15 percent .
European markets were ruling in the green with sentiments upbeat over hopes of robust corporate earnings results.
The FTSE 100 index, the benchmark index of the London Stock Exchange, was ruling 0.34 percent higher at 5,491.97 points, while the French index, CAC 40, was up 0.29 percent at 4,012.37 points.
Its German peer, the DAX, was ruling 0.23 percent higher at 5,976.59 points.