Global cues, short-covering buoy equity markets; NSE high

Mumbai: Broadly positive Asian markets and healthy buying in oil and gas stocks buoyed the Indian equity markets during the early morning trade session on Thursday.

According to market observers, healthy buying was witnessed in oil and gas, healthcare and banking stocks.

Around 9.40 a.m., the wider 51-scrip Nifty 50 of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) traded higher by 42.70 points, or 0.42 per cent to 10,122 points.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 32,289.26 points, traded at 32,306.44 points -- up 120.03 points, or 0.37 per cent, from its previous close at 32,186.41 points.

The Sensex has so far touched a high of 32,313.33 points and a low of 32,233.72 points during the intra-day trade.

On Wednesday, the benchmark indices closed on a flat-to-negative note, as profit booking eroded investors' risk-taking appetite.

Consequently, the NSE Nifty 50 closed at 10,079.30 points -- down 13.75 points or 0.14 per cent, whereas BSE Sensex closed at 32,186.41 points -- up only 27.75 points, or 0.09 per cent.