Mumbai, Jul 19 (IANS): The key Indian equity market indices on Thursday opened higher despite a muted trend in Asian markets.

The Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE, which had closed at 36,373.44 points on Wednesday, opened higher at 36.509.08 points.

Minutes into trading, it was quoting at 36,449.89 points, up by 76.45 points, or 0.21 per cent.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 51-scrip Nifty, which had closed at 10,980.45 points on Wednesday, was quoting at 10,998.25 points, up by 17.80 points or 0.16 per cent.

The indices had closed in red on Wednesday as heavy selling pressure on metal and auto stocks was witnessed.

The Sensex was down by 146.52 points or 0.40 per cent at the Wednesday's closing. In the day's trade, the barometer 30-scrip sensitive index had touched a high of 36,747.87 points and a low of 36,320.92 points. The Nifty, too, was down by 27.60 points or 0.25 per cent.

On Thursday, Asian indices were showing a mixed trend. Japan's Nikkei 225 was quoting in green, up by 0.15 per cent while Hang Seng was down by 0.08 per cent, South Korea's Kospi was also down 0.23 per cent. China's Shanghai Composite index was trading in red, down by 0.49 per cent.

Overnight, Nasdaq closed in red, down marginally by 0.01 per cent while FTSE 100 was up by 0.65 per cent at the closing on Wednesday.