Mumbai, Aug 10 (IANS): A benchmark index for Indian equities markets Wednesday closed 255 points higher and above the 17,000-mark as traders bought into stocks battered in the recent sell-off.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, closed at 17,113.35 points (provisional), up 255.44 points or 1.52 percent compared to its previous close at 16,857.91 points.
It had moved up to 17,256.46 points in early trade.
The markets had been in a firm bear grip in the past two trading sessions over the US sovereign debt rating downgrade and fears of a double dip recession in the largest economy of the world.
The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange too ended in the green at 5,159.35 points, up 1.71 percent.
Broader markets too rose. The BSE midcap index closed 2.39 percent up and the BSE smallcap index ended 2.4 percent higher.