Mumbai, Aug 30 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities closed 33 points higher, with profit booking in FMCG, IT and capital goods paring gains.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,063.48 points, ended at 18,032.11 points, up 33.7 points or 0.19 percent, from Friday's close at 17,998.41 points.

It had risen to 18,216.5 points soon after opening bell.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was ruling 0.05 percent up at 5,410.2 points.

Broader markets indices closed flat.

Metal and energy scrips saw some buying, while IT and FMCG stocks came under selling pressure.

The market breadth was negative with 1,348 scrips advancing, compared to 1,599 stocks declining and 111 remaining unchanged.

There were only four gainers on the Sensex: Tata Steel, up 3.49 percent at Rs.527.95; Bharti Airtel, up 2.12 percent at Rs.322.90; ONGC, up 2.03 percent at Rs.1,344.45 and Hindalco Industries, up 1.96 percent at Rs.166.75.

The losers included ITC, down 1.24 percent at Rs.159.30; BHEL, down 1.14 percent at Rs.2,441.85; TCS, down 1.06 percent at Rs.846.65 and L&T, down 0.75 percent at Rs.1,818.45.

Other major Asian markets moved up, reacting positively to the US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's comments that he would step in and take more 'unconventional' steps to boost growth if the American recovery 'deteriorated significantly'.

The Japanese Nikkei closed 1.76 percent up at 9,149.26 points.

The Chinese Shanghai Composite index ended 1.61 percent higher at 2,652.66 points, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng closed 0.68 percent higher at 20,737.22 points.

European markets were ruling in the red, having opened in the positive.

The German DAX was ruling 0.3 percent down at 5,933.34 points, while the French CAC 40 was trading 0.44 percent lower at 3,491.98 points.

The London market was closed owing to a bank holiday.