A benchmark index for Indian equities markets on Wednesday closed 272 points higher and above the 17,000-mark (17K-mark) as traders bought into stocks battered in the recent sell-off. The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, closed at 17,130.51 points, up 272.6 points or 1.62 per cent compared to its previous close at 16,857.91 points. It had moved up to 17,256.46 points in early trade.The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange too ended in the green at 5,161 points, up 1.74 per cent.The BSE midcap index closed 2.39 per cent up and the BSE smallcap index ended 2.4 per cent higher.  From / Gulf Today