Indian benchmark indices traded firmly higher on Friday, with the Sensex gaining nearly 600 points and the Nifty trading around the 23,950 mark.

At 12:25 hours, the 30-share benchmark index was trading up 609.61 points or 0.80 percent at 76,762.47, and the Nifty was up 96.20 points or 0.40 percent at 23,969.65.

SBI Life Insurance Company, HDFC Life Insurance Company, and Reliance Industries were the top gainers in the Nifty50 index.

In the broader markets, the Nifty MidCap and the Nifty SmallCap were trading 0.2 per cent and 0.66 per cent higher, respectively.

Sector-wise, the Nifty Financial Services rose the most, while the Nifty Consumer Durables and the Nifty Pharma fell the most.

About 2272 shares advanced, 1512 shares declined, and 173 shares unchanged.