Mumbai, Nov 16 (IANS): Taking a cue from global markets, the key Indian equity market indices on Thursday opened higher.

The Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE, which had closed at 32,760.44 points on Wednesday, opened higher at 32,829.82 points.

Minutes into trading, it was quoting at 32,921.74 points, up by 161.30 points, or 0.49 per cent.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 51-scrip Nifty, which had closed at 10,118.05 points, was quoting at 10,159 points, up by 40.95 points or 0.40 per cent.

The equity indices on Wednesday were dragged lower for the third consecutive day as sentiments were hampered by weak global cues, a huge sell-off in metal stocks, as well as disappointing trade deficit data released a day before.

The Sensex was down by 181.43 points or 0.55 per cent at the Wednesday's closing. In the day's trade, the barometer 30-scrip sensitive index had touched a high of 32,944.94 points and a low of 33,683.59 points.

The Nifty too, was down by 68.55 points or 0.67 per cent.

On Thursday, Asian indices were mostly showing a positive trend. Japan's Nikkei 225 was trading in green, up by 0.67 per cent, Hong Kong's Hang Seng up by 0.54 per cent while South Korea's Kospi was up by 0.46 per cent.

China's Shanghai Composite index was quoting in green, up by 0.03 per cent.

Nasdaq closed in red, down by 0.47 per cent while FTSE 100 was also down by 0.57 per cent at the closing on Wednesday.