Mumbai, Sep 8 (IANS): Broadly positive Asian markets and the government's push for faster non-performing assets (NPA) resolution buoyed the Indian equity markets during the early morning trade session on Friday.

According to market observers, healthy buying was witnessed in consumer durables, capital goods and metal stocks.

Around 9.30 a.m., the wider 51-scrip Nifty50 of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) traded higher by 29.70 points, or 0.30 per cent to 9,959.60 points.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 31,694.15 points, traded at 31,736.30 points -- up 73.56 points, or 0.23 per cent, from its previous close at 31,662.74 points.

The Sensex has so far touched a high of 31,763.70 points and a low of 31,694.15 points during intra-day trade.

On Thursday, the benchmark indices closed on a flat note.

The Nifty50 fell by 13.70 points, or 0.14 per cent, to close at 9,929.90 points, while the Sensex witnessed almost no change from its previous close at 31,661.97 points.