India, Aug. 26 -- Benchmark stock indices Sensex and Nifty pared intraday losses to close higher on Tuesday, driven by buying in the final hour amid a sharp drop in crude oil prices.

After moving in a range with a negative bias for most of the day, the 30-share BSE Sensex settled higher by 286.98 points, or 0.37 per cent, at 77,656.09. As many as 24 of its constituents ended in gains, and six in losses. During the day, it hit a high of 77,666.39 and a low of 77,125.91.

The 50-share NSE Nifty also remained volatile before ending higher by 115.50 points, or 0.48 per cent, at 24,334.55 on fag-end buying.

Among the 30 Sensex firms, InterGlobe Aviation, Adani Ports, Infosys, Trent, Titan and State Bank of India were the major winners.

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