Mumbai, Dec 14 (IANS): A benchmark index for Indian equities Wednesday was ruling in a tight range with investors wary of the continuing slip in the rupee which fell to a record low.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened lower at 15,963.75 points, moved to 16,065.91 points around 11 a.m., 63.4 points or 0.4 percent up from its previous close at 16,002.51 points.

The Sensex had fallen to an intra-day low of 15,924.21 points in morning trade.

The rupee fell to another intra-day low Wednesday to 53.75 to a dollar, amid continued demand for the greenback from importers and gloomy outlook for the global economy owing mainly to the debt crisis in eurozone.

The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also crept up and was trading at 4,820.8 points, up 0.42 percent or 20.2 points from its previous close.

Broader markets nudged higher with the BSE 500 index ruling 0.35 percent up. The BSE midcap and smallcap indices were also trading in the green.

Banking, capital goods and FMCG stocks rose, while power and metal companies continued to lose.

The market breadth was positive, with 1,242 stocks advancing and 886 on the decline. Another 115 were unchanged.

Among gainers on the 30-scrip Sensex at this time were Sun Pharma, SBI, Bharti Airtel and RIL. Losers included NTPC, Coal India, Hero MotoCorp and Tata Steel.

Asian markets were ruling lower as traders remained unconvinced by Europe's deal to save their currency and were upset by the US Fed's lack of fresh economy-boosting plans. Overnight losses at Wall Street also weighed on sentiments.

The Japanese Nikkei was ruling 0.57 percent down at 8,503.94 points. Hong Kong's Hang Seng was ruling 0.3 percent lower at 18,392.08 points.

The Chinese Shanghai composite index was trading 0.31 percent lower at 2,241.65 points.