Mumbai, Nov 22 (IANS): Broadly positive Asian markets, along with higher global crude oil prices and value buying pushed the Indian equity markets higher during the early morning trade session on Tuesday.

The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) gained 83.65 points or 1.05 per cent to 8,012.75 points.

The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 25,928.16 points, traded at 26,018.29 points (at 9.30 a.m.) -- up 253.15 points or 0.98 per cent from the previous close at 25,765.14 points.

The Sensex has so far touched a high of 26,039.70 points and a low of 25,919.05 points during the intra-day trade.

The BSE market breadth was skewed in favour of the bulls -- with 1,182 advances and 299 declines.

On Monday, the Indian equity markets had plunged to their lowest levels in the last six months with the benchmark Sensex receding below the 26,000-point mark and the NSE Nifty crashing below the 8,000 level.

The barometer index declined by 385.10 points, or 1.47 per cent, to 26,246.70 points. The NSE Nifty receded by 145 points, or 1.80 per cent, to 7,929.10 points.