Sensex closes 77 points up

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,355.3 points, closed at 18,497.77 points (provisional), up 77.66 points or 0.42 percent from its previous close at 18,420.11 points.

The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also ended higher at 5,556.85 points, up 0.45 percent.

Broader markets too closed higher with the BSE midcap index ending 0.78 percent up and the BSE smallcap index 0.65 percent higher.