Mumbai, Mar 9 (IANS): Ahead of exit polls data of assembly elections in five states, the key Indian equity market indices opened flat on Thursday.

The Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE, which had closed at 28,901.94 points on Wednesday, opened marginally higher at 28, 909.70 points.

Minutes into trading, it was quoting at 28,852.72 points, down by 49.22 points, or 0.17 per cent.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 51-scrip Nifty, which had closed at 8,924.30 points, was quoting at 8,911.55 points, down by 12.75 points or 0.14 per cent.

On Wednesday investors remained cautious ahead of assembly election results and the outcome of the European Central Bank (ECB) monetary policy review.

Subdued investors' sentiment along with a marginally weak rupee and heavy selling pressure witnessed in metal, oil and gas, and automobile stocks pulled the Indian equity markets' indices down.

The Sensex was down by 97.62 points or 0.34 per cent at the Wednesday's closing. In the day's trade, the barometer 30-scrip sensitive index had touched a high of 29,022.32 points and a low of 28,815.48 points.

The Nifty, too was down by 22.60 points or 0.25 per cent.

On Thursday, Asian indices were showing a mixed trend. Japan's Nikkei 225 was trading in green, up by 0.15 per cent, Hang Seng down by 0.93 per cent while South Korea's Kospi was in red, down by 0.05 per cent.

China's Shanghai Composite index was quoting in red, down by 0.86 per cent.

On a flat note, Nasdaq closed in green, up by 0.06 per cent while FTSE 100 was down by 0.06 per cent at the closing on Wednesday.