Mumbai, Dec 22 (IANS): Taking cues from global markets, the key Indian equity market indices opened flat on Thursday.

The Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE, which had closed at 26,242.38 points on Wednesday, opened lower at 26,224.07 points.

Minutes into trading, it was quoting at 26,225.84 points, down by 16.54 points, or 0.06 per cent.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 51-scrip Nifty, which had closed at 8,061.30 points, was trading at 8,043.85 points, down 17.45 points or 0.22 per cent.

On Wednesday, huge outflow of foreign funds, coupled with negative global indices and profit booking, pulled the Indian equity markets lower for the sixth consecutive session.

The Sensex was down 65.60 points or 0.25 per cent at Wednesday''s closing. The index touched a high of 26,396 points and a low of 26,213.51 points during the intra-day trade.

The Nifty, also dipped by 21.10 points or 0.26 per cent.

On Thursday, Asian indices were trading in a muted note taking a cue from a subdued trade on Wall Street as investors booked profit ahead of the upcoming holidays.

Japan''s Nikkei 225 was trading in red, down 0.16 per cent, Hang Seng down by 0.82 per cent while South Korea''s Kospi was also down by 0.02 per cent. China''s Shanghai Composite index was quoting in red, down by 0.25 per cent.

Nasdaq on Wednesday closed in red, down by 0.23 per cent and FTSE 100 also fell by 0.04 per cent at the closing.