Mumbai, Sep 24 - A key index of the Indian equities markets made up its losses Thursday to shut shop 68 points higher than its previous close, even as bourses across the world were trading on a tepid note.

The sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened lower at 16,634.08 points, ended at 16,781.43 points -- 61.93 points or 0.37 percent higher than Wednesday's close of 16,719.5 points.

It had fallen to a low of 16,494.92 points during the day.

The S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE), too, ended in the positive terrain at 4,986.55 points, up 0.33 percent.

Broader market indices did better, with the BSE midcap index ending 0.74 percent higher and the BSE smallcap index moving up 0.46 percent.

Banking, healthcare and FMCG stocks found favour among buyers, while IT, metals, and consumer durable scrips came under selling pressure.

The market breadth tilted towards the positive as trading came to an end, with 1,466 stocks advancing, 1,289 declining and 85 remaining unchanged.

Among the gainers on the Sensex were HDFC, up 3.39 percent at Rs.2,743.15; HDFC Bank, up 3.39 percent at Rs.1,622.10; Wipro, up 2.21 percent at Rs.578.95, and Reliance Communications, up 2.14 percent at Rs.304.80.

Among the top losers were Hindalco, down 3.