Mumbai, Sep 1 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities Wednesday closed 234 points higher than its previous close, tracking other rebounding global bourses.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,027.12 points, closed at 18,205.87 points, 234.75 points or 1.31 percent up from its previous close at 17,971.12 points.

It had risen to 18,227.14 points earlier.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty ended 1.29 percent up at 5,471.85 points.

Broader markets indices also closed in the green. The BSE midcap index shut shop 1.67 percent higher, while the BSE smallcap index closed 1.81 percent up.

Metals, realty, telecom and IT scrips saw healthy buying. All the 13 BSE sectoral indices were in the positive.

The market breadth was positive with 2,203 scrips advancing, compared to 749 stocks declining and 112 remaining unchanged.

The major gainers on the Sensex were: Reliance Com, up 4.94 percent at Rs.163.70; Hindalco Industries, up 4.48 percent at Rs.173.85; Sterlite Industries, up 3.57 percent at Rs.156.55 and Bharti Airtel, up 3.1 percent at Rs.337.30.

There were only three losers: Hero Honda, down 1.85 percent at Rs.1,758.65; HDFC, down 0.42 percent at Rs.622.50, and ONGC down 0.38 percent at Rs.1,333.60.

Other Asian markets moved up, tracking positive cues from Wall Street and news of Chinese manufacturing activity rebounding.

The Japanese Nikkei rose 1.17 percent to close at 8,927.02 points.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended trade 0.43 percent higher at 20,623.83 points. The Chinese Shanghai Composite index, however, fell 0.6 percent because of profit booking to close at 2,622.88 points.

European markets were trading in the green, buoyed by upbeat economic data from the Asia Pacific region. Australia too released data showing robust economic growth.

At the closing bell here, the FTSE 100 was trading 1.38 percent higher at 5,297.44 points

The German DAX was ruling 1.12 percent up at 5,991.58 points, while the French CAC 40 was trading 1.73 percent higher at 3,551.25 points.