Mumbai, Aug 3 (IANS): The key Indian equity market indices on Thursday opened higher after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in its third bi-monthly monetary policy review of 2017-18 had lowered the key rates.

The Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE, which had closed at 32,476.74 points on Wednesday, opened higher at 32,502.55 points.

Minutes into trading, it was quoting at 32, 437.49 points, down by 39.25 points, or 0.12 per cent.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 51-scrip Nifty, which had closed at 10,081.50 points, was quoting at 10,060.25 points, down by 21.25 points or 0.21 per cent.

Indian equity markets on Wednesday were pulled lower to close on a subdued note on the back of broadly negative European markets and profit booking as the RBI's decision to reduce key lending rates could not lift investors' sentiments.

The Sensex was down by 98.43 points or 0.30 per cent at the Wednesday's closing. In the day's trade, the barometer 30-scrip sensitive index had touched a high of 32,686.48 points and a low of 32,394.89 points.

The Nifty too, was down by 33.15 points or 0.33 per cent.

On Thursday, Asian indices were showing a negative trend. Japan's Nikkei 225 was trading in red, down by 0.24 per cent, Hang Seng down by 0.09 per cent while South Korea's Kospi was also down by 1.48 per cent.

China's Shanghai Composite index was quoting in red, down by 0.27 per cent.

Nasdaq closed in red, down by 0.30 points while FTSE 100 was also down by 12.23 points at the closing on Wednesday.