MUMBAI: Positive global cues and a strong rupee lifted the Indian equities markets on Monday.

The key indices provisionally closed with gains of over half a pct each, as healthy buying was witnessed in metal, IT and automobile stocks.

The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) edged up by 57.50 points or 0.65 pct to 8,879.20 points.

The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 28,481.91 points, provisionally closed at 28,661.58 points (at 3.30 p.m.) -- up 192.83 points or 0.68 pct from the previous close at 28,468.75 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 28,696.53 points and a low of 28,419.27 points during the intra-day trade.

The BSE market breadth was tilted in favour of the bulls -- with 1,713 advances and 1,142 declines.

On Friday, the benchmark indices rose to new five-month closing highs on the back of fresh buying.

The NSE Nifty edged up by 43.70 points or 0.50 pct to close at 8,821.70 points, and the BSE Sensex was up 167.48 points or 0.59 pct at 28,468.75 points.

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