Mumbai, Oct. 30 -- Indian equity markets closed higher on Friday, with benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty gaining around 0.5 per cent, supported by gains in IT and pharmaceutical stocks. However, weak broader-market participation and losses across several major sectoral indices limited the overall market momentum.

The NIFTY 50 index closed at 23,053.10, gaining 116.35 points or 0.51 per cent, while the BSE Sensex settled at 74,459.53, rising 308.49 points or 0.42 per cent.

Among sectoral indices on the NSE, Nifty IT led the gains, surging 2.16 per cent, followed by Nifty Pharma, which advanced 1.67 per cent. Nifty Healthcare also gained 1.59 per cent.

However, most other major sectoral indices ended in the red. Nifty Auto declined 0.82...