Mumbai, Jan 11 (IANS): Indian equities markets were ruling quiet Wednesday after the previous session's rally as traders awaited further news on the economic front and dull cues from other Asian bourses prompted them to take a breather.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) nudged up and was comfortably above the 16,000-mark that it breached Tuesday, after a month's gap with a 350 points surge.

The Sensex, which opened at 16,222.37 points, was ruling at 16,196.77 points around 11.37 a.m, 31.68 points or 0.2 percent up from its previous close at 16,165.09 points.

It had touched a high of 16,222.37 points and a low of 16,145.19 points.

The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also was trading in the positive at 4,859.95 points - up 0.21 percent or 10.4 points from its previous close.

Broader markets were also in the green. The BSE 500 index was ruling 0.42 percent higher from its previous close.

The market breadth was positive with 1,674 stocks advancing, compared to 768 on the decline. Another 91 remained unchanged.

Prominent gainers on the 30-scrip Sensex included were led by metal stocks Hindalco, Sterlite and realty major DLF, while leading losers at this time were M&M, TCS and Cipla.

Asian markets were ruling subdued as traders booked profits after the recent surge.

The Japanese Nikkei was quiet flat at 8,435.3 points, up 0.15 percent.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng was flat at 19,009.62 points, while the Chinese Shanghai Composite index shed 0.74 percent and was trading at 2,268.74 points.

The South Korean Kospi was down 0.41 percent to end at 1,845.55 points.