Mumbai, Dec 27 (IANS): Taking a cue from global markets, the key Indian equity market indices on Thursday opened higher ahead of derivatives expiry.

The Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE, which had closed at 35,649.94 points on Wednesday, opened higher at 36,002.11 points.

Minutes into trading, it was quoting at 35,952.72 points, up by 302.78 points, or 0.85 per cent.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 51-scrip Nifty, which had closed at 10,729.85 points on Wednesday, was quoting at 10,816.65 points, up by 86.80 points or 0.81 per cent.

Value buying on the back of attractive valuations along with short-covering ahead of derivatives expiry and low crude oil prices had buoyed the major domestic equity indices on Wednesday.

The Sensex was up 179.79 points or 0.51 per cent at the Wednesday's closing. In the day's trade, the barometer 30-scrip sensitive index had touched a high of 35,711.26 points and a low of 35,010.82 points. The Nifty, too was up by 66.35 points or 0.62 per cent.

On Thursday, Asian indices were mostly showing a positive trend. Japan's Nikkei 225 was quoting in green, up by 3.39 per cent, while Hang Seng was up by 0.57 per cent, South Korea's Kospi was up by 0.14 per cent. China's Shanghai Composite index was trading in green, up by 0.54 per cent.

Overnight, Nasdaq closed in green, up by 5.84 per cent.