Mumbai, Apr 18 (IANS): Key Indian equity indices traded in the green during the mid-afternoon session on Wednesday following positive global cues.

According to market observers, forecast of a normal monsoon, along with expectations of upbeat quarterly corporate earnings, kept investors' sentiments buoyant.

Index heavyweights like ITC, Bharti Airtel, Wipro, Yes Bank and ONGC were among the top gainers on the BSE.

Around 1 p.m., the wider Nifty50 on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) traded higher by 24.85 points or 0.24 per cent at 10,573.55 points.

The barometer 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 34,443.42 points, traded at 34,485.18 points -- up 90.12 points or 0.26 per cent from its previous session's close.

The Sensex has so far touched a high of 34,505.19 points and a low of 34,364.79 points during the intra-day trade.

The BSE market breadth was bullish with 1,259 advances and 1,191 declines.

On Tuesday, the equity indices registered gains for the ninth straight session -- the longest gain in over four years.

The NSE Nifty50 edged higher by 20.35 points or 0.19 per cent to close at 10,548.70 points, while the Sensex settled at 34,395.06 points -- up 89.63 points or 0.26 per cent.