Sensex closes highest in over 2 years

Mumbai: A benchmark index for Indian equities closed at its highest level since February 2008 Thursday helped by a late surge in buying.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,978.37 points, shut shop at 18,091.84 points (provisional), 114.61 points or 0.64 percent up from its previous close at 17,977.23 points.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty closed at 5,437.25 points, up 0.7 percent from its previous close at 5,399.35 points.

Broader markets indices also ended in the green, with the BSE midcap index 0.35 percent up and the BSE smallcap index closing 0.22 percent higher.