Mumbai, Aug 27 (TIWN) Healthy buying in metal and pharma stocks as well as positive Asian cues lifted India's equity markets to close at record high levels on Friday.

Globally, Asian shares were set for their best week since February on Friday as Chinese markets cheered a burst of central bank liquidity.  However, European stocks were flat on Friday ahead of US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's speech at the Jackson Hole Symposium that could offer hints on the timeline for slowing of its bond purchases programme.  Sector-wise, capital goods, power, metals and healthcare stocks gained the most.  Consequently, the S&P BSE Sensex ended the day's tarde at 56,124.72, higher by 175.62 points or 0.31 per cent from its previous close.  Similarly, the NSE Nifty50 too closed higher, rising to 16,705.20, up by 68.30 points or 0.41 per cent from its previous close.