Mumbai, Nov 23 (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 33,561.55 points on Wednesday, opened higher at 33,575.91 points.

Minutes into trading, it was quoting at 33, 589.50 points, up by 27.95 points, or 0.08 per cent.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 51-scrip Nifty, which had closed at 10,342.30 points, was quoting at 10,349.60 points, up by 7.30 points or 0.07 per cent.

Extending gains for the fifth consecutive session, the key Indian equity indices on Wednesday closed in the positive territory as positive Asian cues and higher auto stocks buoyed investors' sentiments.

However, profit booking in metals and healthcare sectors, along with an outflow of foreign funds, capped gains.

The Sensex was up by 83.20 points or 0.25 percent at the Wednesday's closing. In the day's trade, the barometer 30-scrip sensitive index had touched a high of 33,654.53 points and a low of 33,465.23 points. The Nifty too was up by 15.40 points or 0.15 per cent.

On Thursday, Asian indices were mostly showing a mixed trend. Japan's Nikkei 225 was trading in green, up by 0.47 per cent, Hang Seng up by 0.20 per cent while South Korea's Kospi was down by 0.21 per cent. China's Shanghai Composite index was quoting in red, down by 0.58 per cent.

Nasdaq closed in green, up by 0.07 per cent while FTSE 100 was also up by 0.10 per cent at the closing on Wednesday.