Mumbai, June 23 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities market Thursday closed 176 points higher, shrugging off dull cues from global bourses. Broader markets, however, ended on a lacklustre note.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,526.92 points, closed at 17,727.49 points, up 176.86 points or 1.01 percent from its previous close at 17,550.63 points.

The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also closed in the green at 5,320 points, up 0.79 percent.

Broader markets closed on a dull note with the BSE midcap index ending flat and the BSE smallcap index down 0.33 percent.

The market breadth was negative, with 1,159 stocks advancing, 1,612 on the decline and 138 remaining unchanged.

Among gainers on the 30-scrip Sensex were: ITC, up 3.37 percent at Rs.191.45; RCom, up 3.36 percent at Rs.90.65; RIL, up 2.9 percent at Rs.870.65; and Hindustan Unilever, up 1.83 percent at Rs.317.60.

Prominent among the losers were Cipla, down 1.97 percent at Rs.315.80; Maruti Suzuki, down 1.72 percent at Rs.1,099.75; BHEL, down 0.78 percent at Rs.1,906.60; and HDFC, down 0.78 percent at Rs.638.50.

Consumer durables, FMCG and energy stocks were among major gainers in Thursday's trade.

Asian markets were subdued after the US Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged to support a recovery in the world's largest economy and pruned its outlook on growth.

The Nikkei of the Japanese stock exchange closed 0.34 percent lower at 9,596.74 points, while the Hang Seng of the Hong Kong stock exchange ended 0.46 percent down at 21,759.14 points.

However, the Chinese Shanghai composite index moved up 1.47 percent to close at 2,688.25 points.

Weak industrial output and a slowdown in services growth in the Euro zone had a negative impact on the region's bourses. US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke's comments on the US economy also had a sobering effect on European exchanges.

Around midday, Britain's FTSE was down 0.96 percent at 5,717.82 points and the French CAC 40 was trading 1.33 percent lower at 3,819.69 points.

The German DAX was ruling 1.06 percent down at 7,201.11 points.