Mumbai, Oct 14 (IANS): A benchmark index for Indian equities markets Friday broke free from the sluggishness in the morning session and rose in the later half to close 187 points higher.The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 16,836.83 points, closed at 17,070.68 points (provisional), up 186.76 points or 1.11 percent from its previous close at 16,883.92 points.
The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also ended higher, 1.05 percent or 53.5 points up at 5,131.35 points.
Broader markets too moved up. The BSE 500 index closed 0.79 percent higher. The BSE midcap index ended 0.51 percent higher, while the BSE small cap index closed 0.31 percent up.