Mumbai, Aug 9 (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 37,887.56 points on Wednesday, opened higher at 37,994.51 points.

Minutes into trading, it was quoting at 38,005.35 points, up by 117.79 points, or 0.31 per cent.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 51-scrip Nifty, which had closed at 11,450 points on Wednesday, was quoting at 11,488.90 points, up by 38.90 points or 0.34 per cent.

Positive global cues, along with prediction of healthy economic growth and better-than-expected quarterly results, lifted the key Indian equity indices to new record intra-day and closing high-levels on Wednesday.

According to market observers, the inflow of foreign funds and healthy buying in consumer durables, banking and oil and gas stocks pushed the key indices higher.

The Sensex was up by 221.76 points or 0.59 per cent at the Wednesday's closing. In the day's trade, the barometer 30-scrip sensitive index had touched a high of 37,931.42 points and a low of 37,641.40 points. The Nifty too was up by 60.55 points or 0.53 per cent.

On Thursday, Asian indices were showing a mixed trend. Japan's Nikkei 225 was quoting in red, down by 0.16 per cent while Hang Seng was up by 0.91 per cent. South Korea's Kospi was down 0.03 per cent and China's Shanghai Composite index was trading in green, up by 1.78 per cent.

Overnight, the Nasdaq closed in green, up by 0.06 per cent while FTSE 100 was also up by 0.75 per cent at the closing on Wednesday.