Sensex closes 315 points higher (Second Lead)

MUMBAI - A benchmark index of Indian equities Monday closed 315 points higher with heavyweight scrips ICICI Bank, HDFC and Bharti Airtel gaining the most.

The 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 20,272.49 points, closed at 20,347.9 points (provisional), up 315.56 points or 1.58 percent from its previous close at 20,032.34 points.

Earlier in the day, the BSE was hit by a technical snag, which led to a halt in trading from noon to 2.30 p.m.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the 50-share S&P CNX Nifty ended at 6,119.55 points, up 1.69 percent.

Broader markets also closed in the green. The BSE midcap index ended 1.71 percent higher, while the BSE smallcap index moved up 1.23 percent.