Mumbai, Dec 19 (IANS): A benchmark index of Indian equities markets closed Friday's trade up 228.74 points or 0.84 percent as capital goods and information technology (IT) stocks gained.

Healthy buying was observed in metal, bank, oil and gas and technology, entertainment and media (TECK) sectors.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 27,292.55 points, closed trade at 27,355.31 points, up 228.74 points or 0.84 percent from the previous day's close at 27,126.57 points.

The Sensex has touched a high of 27,497.12 points and a low of 27,292.14 points in the intra-day trade.

The S&P capital goods index surged by 206.71 points, IT index gained by 206.07 points, metal index zoomed 186.07 points, oil and gas index got augmented by 141.61 points, bank index was up 136.71 points and TECK index moved higher by 82.29 points.

However, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) index was down 96.31 points, consumer durables index lost 14.03 points and realty index inched lower by 8.08 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also closed after making healthy gains. I ended the day's trade 65.90 points or 0.81 percent up at 8,225.20 points.