Mumbai, Dec 31 (IANS): A benchmark index of Indian equities markets closed Wednesday's trade up 95.88 points or 0.35 percent, as healthcare stocks rallied.

All sector-based indices of the the 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), ended in green. Banking, capital goods, consumer durables and oil and gas stocks witnessed healthy buying.

On the market's yearly performance, Kamlesh Rao, chief executive, Kotak Securities, said: "Indian markets have witnessed a buoyant trend that indicates better profit growth prospects for 2015. The Indian markets have outperformed its Asian and global peers."

"The Sensex is now up over 30 percent - a whopping 6,000 points this calendar year. Our market remains the hot investment option. And this growth is expected to continue as cyclical, rate-sensitive and investment-oriented stocks find flavour with investors."

The sensitive index of the S&P BSE which opened at 27,358.30 points, closed at 27,499.42 points, up 95.88 points or 0.35 percent from the previous day's close at 27,403.54 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 27,527.24 points and a low of 27,346 points in the intra-day trade.

"Market remained sideways till afternoon, but selected buying kept the market firm on the last trading day of 2014; keeping the flames of optimism alive. Nifty today closed at 8,282.70 points, up around 34 points," said Alex Mathews, head research, Geojit BNP Paribas Financial Services.

"The European markets rose despite of a low volume. The US index futures were trading lower."

The S&P healthcare index was up 105.01 points, followed by bankex which increased by 93.02 points, capital goods index was higher 89.48 points, consumer durables index rose 88.76 points and oil and gas index moved up by 69.24 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also made gains in the day's trade. It was ended the trade up 34.45 points or 0.42 percent up at 8,282.70 points.

The major Sensex gainers were: BHEL, up 2.65 percent at Rs.265.20; DrReddy, up 2.02 percent at Rs.3,244.95; NTPC, up 1.69 percent at Rs.144.10, Reliance Industries, up 1.20 percent at Rs.891.15 and Hindalco Inds, up 0.93 percent at Rs.157.70.

The losers were: Mahindra and Mahindra, down 1.85 percent at Rs.1,234.50; Bajaj Auto, down 0.66 percent at Rs.2,438.45; Maruti Suzuki, down 0.63 percent at Rs.3,328.30, HDFC Bank, down 0.42 percent at Rs.952.30 and Larsen and Toubro (L&T), down 0.13 percent at Rs.1,496.50.

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