Mumbai, Oct 3 (IANS): Key Indian equity indices on Tuesday surged as positive global cues, coupled with healthy buying in automobile, consumer durables, and oil and gas stocks, lifted investors' sentiments.

According to market observers, expectations of an economic stimulus package added fillip to the equity markets' rise. 

The wider 51-scrip Nifty50 of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) rose by 70.90 points, or 0.72 per cent, to provisionally close at 9,859.50 points (at 3.30 p.m.). 

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 31,537.81 points, closed at 31,497.38 points -- up 213.66 points, or 0.68 per cent.

The Sensex touched a high of 31,615.28 points and a low of 31,440.48 points during the intra-day trade.

The BSE market breadth was bullish -- with 1,397 advances and 1,273 declines.

On Friday, the benchmark indices closed on a flat-to-positive note as investors booked profits.

The Nifty50 was up 19.65 points or 0.20 per cent to close at 9,788.60 points, while the Sensex closed at 31,283.72 points -- up a mere 1.24 points.