Mumbai, Nov 26 (IANS): Heightened chances of key economic legislations getting passed during Parliament's winter session coupled with hopes of a stimulus package in European Union buoyed the Indian equity markets on Thursday.

Initially, both the bellwether indices of the Indian equity markets opened on a weak footing but gained strength in line with their Asian and European peers.

Furthermore, better-than-expected outcome of the derivatives expiry cheered investors.

The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) provisionally closed 210 points or 0.81 percent up in the day's trade.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) made similar gains during the day's trade. It rose by 63.15 points or 0.81 percent to 7,894.75 points.

The S&P BSE Sensex, which opened at 25,769.81 points, provisionally closed at 25,985.63 points (at 3.30 p.m.) -- 210 points or 0.81 percent up from the previous day's close at 25,775.74 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 26,016.04 points and a low of 25,769.81 points during the intra-day trade.