Mumbai, Dec 6 (IANS): Taking a cue from muted global markets, the key Indian equity indices on Thursday opened lower.

The Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE, which had closed at 35,884.41 on Wednesday, opened lower at 35,694.25.

Minutes into trading, it was quoting at 35,701.99, down by 182.42 points, or 0.51 per cent.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-scrip Nifty, which had closed at 10,782.90 on Wednesday, was quoting at 10,708.55, down by 74.35 points or 0.69 per cent.

Broadly negative global cues as well as disappointment over the Reserve Bank's monetary policy announcement keeping its key lending rate for commercial banks unchanged at 6.5 per cent, dragged the key Indian equity indices to end in red on Wednesday.

The Sensex was down by 249.90 points or 0.69 percent at the Wednesday's closing. In the day's trade, the barometer 30-scrip sensitive index had touched a high of 36,048.65 and a low of 35,777.81. The Nifty too, was down by 86.60 points or 0.80 per cent.

On Thursday, Asian indices were showing a negative trend. Japan's Nikkei 225 was quoting in red, down by 2.11 per cent while Hang Seng was down by 2.59 per cent, South Korea's Kospi was also down by 1.32 per cent. China's Shanghai Composite index was trading in red, down by 1.30 per cent.

Overnight, FTSE 100 was down by 1.46 per cent at the closing on Wednesday.