Mumbai, Apr 18 (IANS): Expectations of healthy quarterly results, along with better-than-expected macro-economic data and forecast of above-average monsoon rains, buoyed the Indian equity markets on Monday.

Consequently, the key indices of the Indian equity markets traded in the green during the mid-afternoon trade session.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) edged higher by 47.40 points or 0.60 percent, to 7,897.85 points.

The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 25,833.16 points, traded at 25,779.58 points (at 2.00 p.m.) -- up 152.83 points or 0.60 percent from the previous close at 25,626.75 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 25,870.03 points and a low of 25,634.12 points during the intra-day trade.

The BSE market breadth was tilted in favour of bulls -- with 1,344 advances and 1,142 declines.

Both the key Indian indices had ended on a higher note in the previous trade session on Wednesday. The barometer index had surged 481 points or 1.91 percent, and the NSE Nifty gained 142 points or 1.84 percent.