Mumbai, Jul 27 (IANS): The key Indian equity market indices on Thursday opened higher after the US Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged.

The Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE, which had closed at 32,382.46 points on Wednesday, opened higher at 32,519.44 points.

Minutes into trading, it was quoting at 32,500.09 points, up by 117.63 points or 0.36 per cent.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 51-scrip Nifty, which had closed at 10,020.65 points, was quoting at 10,055.85 points, up by 35.20 points or 0.35 per cent.

In a statement the US Federal Reserve said information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in June indicates that the labour market has continued to strengthen and that economic activity has been rising moderately so far this year.

Job gains have been solid, on average, since the beginning of the year, and the unemployment rate has declined.

Household spending and business fixed investment have continued to expand.

"On a 12-month basis, overall inflation and the measure excluding food and energy prices have declined and are running below two per cent," it said.

On Thursday, Asian indices were showing a positive trend. Japan's Nikkei 225 was trading in green, up by 0.07 per cent, Hang Seng up by 0.41 per cent while South Korea's Kospi was also up by 0.19 per cent.

China's Shanghai Composite index was quoting in red, down by 0.33 per cent.

Nasdaq closed in green, up by 0.16 percent while FTSE 100 was up by 0.23 percent at the closing on Wednesday.