Equities close with marginal gains, healthcare stocks surge (Second Lead)

Mumbai Aug 24 (IANS) Key Indian equity indices on Thursday provisionally closed on a flat note with marginal gains as sentiments remained afloat on broadly firm global cues and healthy buying in healthcare capital goods and IT stocks.

The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) closed (at 3.30 p.m.) fractionally higher by 4.55 points or 0.05 per cent at 9 857.05 points.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE which opened at 31 673.44 points provisionally closed at 31 596.06 points -- up 28.05 points or 0.09 per cent from the previous close at 31 568.01 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 31 678.19 points and a low of 31 546.05 points during the intra-day trade.

The BSE market breadth was bullish with 1 432 advances and 1 125 declines.

On Wednesday the benchmark indices closed on a higher note on the back of positive global cues.

The Nifty gained 86.95 points or 0.89 per cent to close at 9 852.50 points while the Sensex closed higher by 276 points or 0.88 per cent at 31 568.01 points.

--IANS
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