Mumbai, Jul 20 (IANS): Taking a cue from global markets the key Indian equity market indices on Thursday opened higher.

The Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE, which had closed at 31,955.35 points on Wednesday, opened higher at 32,033.82 points.

Minutes into trading, it was quoting at 32,015.29 points, up by 59.94 points, or 0.19 per cent.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 51-scrip Nifty, which had closed at 9,899.60 points, was quoting at 9,911.65 points, up by 12.05 points or 0.12 per cent.

Positive global cues, coupled with inflows of foreign funds and healthy buying in healthcare, metal and banking stocks, lifted the Indian equity markets on Wednesday -- a day after they suffered steepest fall of the current fiscal.

The Sensex was up by 244.36 points or 0.77 per cent at the Wednesday's closing.

In the day's trade, the barometer 30-scrip sensitive index had touched a high of 31,978.89 points and a low of 31,793.72 points.

The Nifty too, was up by 72.45 points or 0.74 per cent.

On Thursday, Asian indices were mostly showing a positive trend.

Japan's Nikkei 225 was trading in green, up by 0.68 per cent, Hang Seng was up by 0.29 per cent while South Korea's Kospi was also up by 0.15 per cent.

China's Shanghai Composite index was quoting in green, up by 0.26 per cent.

Nasdaq closed in green, up by 0.64 per cent while FTSE 100 was up by 0.55 per cent at the closing on Wednesday.