Mumbai, Jan 17 (IANS): A benchmark index for the Indian equities markets closed 276 points higher Tuesday, helped by positive global cues and latest data from China which showed a robust growth in the quarter ending December.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 16,270.87 points, closed at 16,466.05 points, 276.69 points or 1.71 percent up from its previous close at 16,189.36 points.
It had risen to an intra-day high of 16,501.38 points.
The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also rose to close at 4,967.3 points -- up 1.92 percent or 93.4 points from its previous close.
Broader markets also ended in the green. The BSE 500 index closed 1.67 percent higher from its previous close. The BSE midcap index moved up 1.34 percent and the BSE smallcap index rose 1.07 percent.
The market breadth was positive with 1,907 stocks advancing, compared to 975 on the decline. Another 103 remained unchanged.
Prominent gainers on the 30-scrip Sensex included Maruti Suzuki, up 10.48 percent at Rs.1,109.95; Hindalco, up 6.04 percent at Rs.140.45; L&T, up 5.23 percent at Rs.1,265.50; and Tata Steel, up 5 percent at Rs.442.80.
Among losers were Tata Power, down 0.82 percent at Rs.96.90; ICICI Bank, down 0.75 percent at Rs.785.60; Gail India, down 0.44 percent at Rs.370.25; and ITC, down 0.38 percent at Rs.208.30.
Asian markets closed ruling higher buoyed by latest data which showed China growing faster than expected in the quarter ending December at 8.9 percent.
The Japanese Nikkei rose 1.05 percent and closed at 8,466.4 points, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng moved up 3.24 percent to close at 19,627.75 points.
The Chinese Shanghai Composite index rose a whopping 4.18 percent to end at 2,298.38 points.
European markets moved up Tuesday, enthused by the Chinese growth figures and largely brushing the credit rating downgrade by Standard and Poor's late Friday of nine European countries, including France and Italy.
Britain's FTSE 100 was ruling 1.12 percent higher at 5,720.59 points, while the German DAX was trading 1.85 percent up at 6,335.04 points.
The French CAC 40 was ruling 1.86 percent higher at 3,284.93 points.