Mumbai, Aug 17 (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 31,770.89 points on Wednesday, opened higher at 31,919.17 points.

Minutes into trading, it was quoting at 31,816.25 points, up by 45.36 points, or 0.14 per cent.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 51-scrip Nifty, which had closed at 9,897.30 points, was quoting at 9,924.60 points, up by 27.30 points or 0.28 per cent.

The key Indian equity indices on Wednesday had continued with their second consecutive session of gains to close on a higher note as healthy buying was witnessed in index heavyweights such as ITC, HDFC, Tata Motors and Hindustan Unilever (HUL), among others.

Besides, broadly positive global cues, coupled with intense buying activities in automobile, banking and FMCG stocks, lifted investors' sentiments.

The Sensex was up by 321.86 points or 1.02 per cent at the Wednesday's closing. In the day's trade, the barometer 30-scrip sensitive index had touched a high of 31,805.99 points and a low of 31,399.35 points.

The Nifty too, was up by 103.15 points or 1.05 per cent.

On Thursday, Asian indices were showing a mixed trend.

Japan's Nikkei 225 was trading in red, down by 0.03 per cent, Hang Seng down by 0.04 per cent while South Korea's Kospi was up by 0.47 per cent.

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

Nasdaq closed in green, up by 0.19 per cent while FTSE 100 was also up by 0.66 points at the closing on Wednesday.