Mumbai, Feb 11 (IANS): A benchmark index of Indian equities markets Wednesday closed 178.35 points or 0.63 percent up as capital goods stocks gained.

Good buying was observed in capital goods, banking, healthcare, metal and auto sectors.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 28,450.26 points, closed at 28,533.97 points, up 178.35 points or 0.63 percent from the previous day's close at 28,355.62 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 28,618.91 points and a low of 28,424.39 points in the intra-day trade.

The S&P BSE capital goods index gained 322.85 points, bankex moved up by 225.47 points, healthcare index got augmented by 189.75 points, metal index went up by 168.67 points and auto index rose by 152.22 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) closed trade 61.85 points or 0.72 percent up at 8,627.40 points.

The major Sensex gainers were: Axis Bank, up 2.87 percent at Rs.569.60; Larsen & Toubro, up 2.57 percent at Rs.1,614.20; Maruti, up 2.10 percent at Rs.3,463.95; Tata Steel, up 2.08 percent at Rs.365.10; Reliance Industries Ltd., up 2.07 percent at Rs.900.95; and NTPC, up 1.97 percent at Rs.139.90.

The losers were: ONGC, down 2.63 percent at Rs.345.60; BHEL, down 2.41 percent at Rs.255.20; Tata Motors, down 0.90 percent at Rs.559.25; and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., down 0.81 percent at Rs.1,133.20.

In Asian markets, Hong Kong's Hang Sang closed 0.87 percent down while China's Shanghai Composite index got augmented by 0.52 percent.

In Europe, London's FTSE 100 was down by 0.14 percent, Germany's DAX Index was 0.08 percent down and France's CAC 40 was down by 0.43 percent.