Benchmark stock indices Sensex and Nifty closed higher by more than half a per cent in the special Mahurat trading session on Sunday driven by across-the-board buying by investors. The 30-share BSE Sensex rose by 354.77 points or 0.55 per cent to close at 65,259.45 with 28 of its components settling in the green on the first trading session of Samvat 2080. Broader markets also advanced with the BSE MidCap gaining 0.67 per cent and BSE SmallCap by 1.14 per cent.