Mumbai, July 20 (IANS): Value buying and positive European indices buoyed the Indian equity markets on Wednesday.

Consequently, the key indices provisionally closed the day's trade in the green, as healthy buying was witnessed in healthcare, oil and gas, and capital goods stocks.

The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) edged up by 37.30 points or 0.44 per cent to 8,565.85 points.

The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 27,775.70 points, provisionally closed at 27,915.89 points (at 3.30 p.m.) -- up 128.27 points or 0.46 per cent from the previous close at 27,787.62 points.

It touched a high of 27,935.18 points and a low of 27,759.71 points during the intra-day trade.

The BSE market breadth was tilted in favour of the bulls -- with 1,664 advances and 1,034 declines.

On Tuesday, the benchmark indices closed on a flat-to-positive note, even as profit booking, disappointing quarterly results and negative global cues kept the equity markets subdued throughout the day's trade.

The barometer index had closed higher by 40.96 points or 0.15 per cent, while the Nifty inched up by 19.85 points, or 0.23 per cent.