Mumbai, April 7 (IANS): Weakness persisted in Indian stock markets on Thursday, pulling some benchmark indices down. But other Asian markets had inched up in the morning trades.

Against the previous close at 24,900.63 points, the sensitive index of the BSE opened at 24,998.79 points. Minutes after, the 30-share barometer index was trading at 24,856.11 points, down 44.52 points, or 0.18 percent.

At the National Stock Exchange, the 50-share Nifty opened at 7,630.40 points, as against the previous close at 7,614.35 points. It was subsequently ruling at 7,601.85 points, down 12.50 points, or 0.16 percent.

The Indian equity markets on Wednesday closed flat, with the Sensex up a mere 17.04 points or 0.07 percent, and the Nifty logging a gain of just 11.15 points or 0.15 percent.

"The US markets posted solid gains on Wednesday, aided by a climb in oil prices and a surge in healthcare stocks. European markets ended Wednesday's choppy trading session with modest gains," Angel Broking said in an analysis ahead of the opening bell.

"The markets received a boost from rising crude oil prices and the strong Chinese service sector report."