Mumbai, Sep 12 (IANS): A benchmark index of Indian equities markets closed Friday's trade 65.17 points or 0.24 percent up as auto stocks gained.

Good buying was observed in auto, healthcare and consumer durables sectors, while selling pressure was seen in capital goods sector.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 27,048.15 points, closed the day's trade at 27,061.04 points, up 65.17 points or 0.24 percent from the previous day's close at 26,995.87 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 27,096.87 points and a low of 26,965.91 points in the trade so far.

The S&P BSE auto index went up by 113.47 points, healthcare index gained by 101.25 points and consumer durables moved up by 69.52 points. However, capital goods index dropped by 125.88 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also closed trade up 19.80 points or 0.24 percent at 8,105.50 points.

The major Sensex gainers were: Cipla, up 6.38 percent at Rs.612.55; Maruti, up 1.87 percent at Rs.2,971.15; Bharti Airtel, up 1.85 percent at Rs.413.15 and ITC, up 1.40 percent at Rs.355.85.

The major Sensex losers were: Hindalco, down 2.29 percent at Rs.168.60; Sun Pharma, down 2.05 percent at Rs.805.90; Tata Power, down 1.65 percent at Rs.89.40 and NTPC, down 1.50 percent at Rs.137.95.

In Asian markets, Nikkei closed 0.25 percent up and China's Shanghai Composite index too gained 0.88 percent while Hong Kong's Hang Seng closed 0.27 percent lower.

In Europe, London's FTSE 100 gained 0.25 percent, Germany's DAX Index was 0.20 percent down, and France's CAC 40 was down by 0.05 percent.