Mumbai, Mar 23 (IANS): Taking a cue from global markets, the key Indian equity market indices opened higher on Thursday.

The Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE, which had closed at 29,167.68 points on Wednesday, opened higher at 29, 201.01 points. Minutes into trading, it was quoting at 29,221.57 points, up by 53.89 points, or 0.18 per cent.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 51-scrip Nifty, which had closed at 9,030.45 points, was quoting at 9,056.30 points, up by 25.85 points or 0.29 per cent.

The markets on Wednesday slipped for the third consecutive trade session, as investors' sentiments were dented on the back of negative global cues, coupled with a weak rupee and heavy selling pressure in automobile, consumer durables and banking stocks.

The Sensex was down by 317.77 points or 1.08 per cent at the Wednesday's closing.

In the day's trade, the barometer 30-scrip sensitive index had touched a high of 29,341.41 points and a low of 29,137.48 points. The Nifty too was down by 91.05 points or one per cent.

On Thursday, Asian indices were showing a positive trend. Japan's Nikkei 225 is trading in green, up by 0.02 per cent, Hang Seng up by 0.37 per cent while South Korea's Kospi was in green, up by 0.21 per cent.

China's Shanghai Composite index was quoting in green, up by 0.30 per cent.

On a positive note, Nasdaq closed in green, up by 0.48 per cent but FTSE 100 was down by 0.73 per cent at the closing on Wednesday.