Mumbai, May 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 37,114.88 points on Wednesday, opened higher at 37,179.13 points.

Minutes into trading, it was quoting at 37,185.55 points, up by 70.67 points, or 0.19 per cent.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader Nifty 50, which had closed at 11,157 points on Wednesday, was quoting at 11,177.65 points, up by 20.65 points or 0.19 per cent.

As many as 30 stocks advanced in the Nifty 50 index while 20 stocks declined. In BSE Sensex, 13 stocks including Coal India, TCS were trading in red while 17 stocks including Yes Bank, Maruti were trading in green at 9.21 a.m.

The equity indices succumbed to selling pressure on Wednesday amid record volatility.

The Sensex was down by 203.65 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 37,559.67 points and a low of 37,047.87 points. The Nifty, too was down by 65.05 points, or 0.58 per cent.

On Thursday, Asian indices were showing a mixed trend. Japan's Nikkei 225 was quoting in red, down by 0.57 per cent. Hang Seng was up by 0.20 per cent. South Korea's Kospi was also quoting in red, down by 0.62 per cent. China's Shanghai Composite was trading in green, up by 0.24 per cent.

Overnight, Nasdaq closed in green, up by 1.13 per cent while FTSE was also up by 0.76 per cent at the closing on Wednesday.