Indian benchmark equity indices closed higher on Friday, driven by a rebound in auto stocks, with valuations becoming more attractive after last week's sharp decline. The Nifty 50 rose by 0.27%, finishing at 23,813, while the BSE Sensex gained 0.29%, ending at 78,699. Commenting on the market action, Dhupesh Dhameja, Derivatives Analyst at SAMCO Securities, stated that the Nifty is showing a constrained sideways-to-bullish trend, with narrow price movements and repeated indecisive candlestick patterns indicating a lack of clear direction.