Mumbai, Sep 27 (IANS): The key Indian equity market indices on Thursday opened higher despite a muted trend in Asian markets and rate hike by the US Federal Reserve.

The Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE, which had closed at 36,542.27 points on Wednesday, opened higher at 36,691.93 points.

Minutes into trading, it was quoting at 36,565.54 points, up by 23.27 points, or 0.06 per cent.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 51-scrip Nifty, which had closed at 11,053.80 points on Wednesday, was quoting at 11,062.20 points, up by 8.40 points or 0.08 per cent.

Fears over a rise in US interest rates along with profit booking ahead of the September Futures and Options (F&O) expiry subdued the Indian equity markets on Wednesday.

According to market observers, high crude oil prices and caution over a likely default by some of the major players in the non-banking financial sector eroded investors' risk-taking appetite.

The Sensex was down by 109.79 points or 0.30 per cent at the Wednesday's closing. In the day's trade, the barometer 30-scrip sensitive index had touched a high of 36,938.74 points and a low of 36,357.93 points. The Nifty, was down by 13.65 points or 0.12 per cent.

On Thursday, Asian indices were mostly showing a negative trend. Japan's Nikkei 225 was quoting in red, down by 0.37 per cent while Hang Seng was down by 0.34 per cent, South Korea's Kospi was, however, up by 0.49 per cent while China's Shanghai Composite index was trading in red, down by 0.35 per cent.

Overnight, Nasdaq closed in red, down by 0.21 per cent while FTSE 100 was up by 0.05 per cent at the closing on Wednesday.