Mumbai, Aug 5 - A key index of the Indian equities markets Wednesday moved up 72 points higher than its previous close after giving up some gains in the last 30 minutes of trade Wednesday.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 15,882.39 points, ended trade at 15,903.83 points, up 72.85 points or 0.46 percent.

The Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE), too, shut shop in the green at 4,694.15 points, up 0.29 percent.

Among broader market indices, the BSE midcap index closed a marginal 0.12 percent up.

Buying of lower market capitalised scrips pushed the representative BSE smallcap index 1 percent higher.

Realty, auto and FMCG stocks came under selling pressure, while consumer durables and energy stocks moved up.

The market breadth was positive with 1,611 stocks advancing, 1,062 declining and 94 remaining unchanged.

Among the gainers on the Sensex were ONGC, up 4.5 percent at Rs.1,192.40; Wipro, up 4.13 percent at Rs.502.25; Infosys, up 2.49 percent at Rs.2,094.55; and ACC, up 2.42 percent at Rs.922.

Among the losers were Maruti Suzuki, down 3.44 percent at Rs.1,436; Hindalco, down 1.86 percent at Rs.110.85; DLF, down 1.