Mumbai, Aug 20 - Profit-booking pulled down a key index of the Indian equities markets from the day's highs to end just 1.27 percent above its previous close.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened higher at 14,930.05 points, ended at 14,997.01 points (provisional), up 187.37 points or 1.27 percent.

It slipped in the last 40 minutes or so, after gaining more than 328 points to reach the day's high of 15,138.31 points.

The broader-based Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also gave up some of its gains to shut shop a similar 1.27 percent up at 4,450 points.

Broader market indices also shed some gains, with the BSE midcap index closing 0.82 percent higher and the BSE smallcap index ending 0.8 percent up.