Mumbai, Sep 4 - A key index of the Indian equities markets soared 290 points Friday, helping to cut the week's losses after it fell for four consecutive days since Monday.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 15,425.86 points, ended at 15,689.12 points, up 290.79 points or 1.89 percent.

It had closed Thursday at 15,398.33 points.

The broader-based Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) followed the Sensex to end at 4,679.2 points, up 1.86 percent.

Broader market indices, too, ended on the gaining side, with the BSE midcap index closing 1.08 percent higher and the BSE smallcap index ending a similar 1.07 percent up.

The market breadth was positive, with 1,402 stocks advancing, 1,350 declining and 93 remaining unchanged.

Among the gainers were M&M, up 6.21 percent at Rs.863.90; Hero Honda, up 4.2 percent at Rs.1,609.20; Sterlite, up 3.86 percent at Rs.670.45, and L&T, up 3.47 percent at Rs.1,568.55.

There were only two losers: Tata Motors, down 0.