Mumbai, Oct 12 (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 31,833.99 points on Wednesday, opened higher at 31,887.47 points.

Minutes into trading, it was quoting at 31,919.78 points, up by 85.79 points, or 0.27 per cent.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 51-scrip Nifty, which had closed at 9,984.80 points, was quoting at 10,011.20 points, up by 26.40 points or 0.26 per cent.

Breaking a three-day gaining streak, key Indian equity indices closed on a lower note on Wednesday as investors booked profits ahead of the release of important macro-data as well as quarterly earnings results of corporates, according to market observers.

Besides, heavy selling pressure in metal, banking and automobile stocks, along with outflow of foreign funds, kept investors' sentiments subdued.

The Sensex was down by 90.42 points or 0.28 per cent at the Wednesday's closing. In the day's trade, the barometer 30-scrip sensitive index had touched a high of 32,098.46 points and a low of 31,769.40 points.

The Nifty too was down by 32.15 points or 0.32 per cent.

On Thursday, Asian indices were mostly showing a positive trend. Japan's Nikkei 225 was trading in green, up by 0.50 per cent, Hang Seng up by 0.20 per cent while South Korea's Kospi was also up by 0.35 per cent. China's Shanghai Composite index was quoting in red, down by 0.18 per cent.

Nasdaq closed in green, up by 0.25 per cent while FTSE 100 was down by 0.06 per cent at the closing on Wednesday.