Mumbai, March 6 (IANS): Indian equity markets surged to new closing-high levels on Monday as investors' sentiments were buoyed by positive global cues, coupled with a marginally strong rupee.

The key indices provisionally closed with gains of more than half a per cent each to touch new closing highs since March 2015.

The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) gained 65.90 points, or 0.74 per cent, to 8,963.45 points.

The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 28,859.21 points, provisionally closed at 29,048.19 points (at 3.30 p.m.) -- up 215.74 points or 0.75 per cent from the previous close at 28,832.45 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 29,070.20 points and a low of 28,856.12 points during the intra-day trade.

The BSE market breadth was tilted in favour of the bulls -- with 1,499 advances and 1,399 declines.

On Friday, the benchmark indices closed on a flat note as global cues and weak rupee eroded investors' risk-taking ability.

The NSE Nifty closed a tad lower by 2.20 points or 0.02 per cent at 8,897.55 points, and the barometer BSE Sensex was down 7.34 points or 0.03 per cent at 28,832.45 points.