Mumbai, March 19 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities closed on a flat note Friday with a gain of 59 points.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,531.47 points, shut shop at 17,578.23 points, up 58.97 points or 0.34 percent from its previous close.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty ended at 5,255.2 points against the previous close at 5,245.9 points, a gain of 0.18 percent or 9.3 points.

The broader markets too were dull, with the BSE midcap index ending 0.07 percent up and the BSE small cap index closing 0.37 percent higher.