Mumbai, Dec 3 - A key Indian equities index opened in the green Thursday and was ruling about 85 points higher, about ten minutes into trade.

The sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) was at 17,255.8 points, up 0.5 percent or 85.89 points, against Wednesday's close at 17,169.91.

Around the same time, at the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was at 5,145.85 points, against the previous close at 5,123.25 points, a gain of 0.44 percent.

Broader market indices were also in the green with the BSE midcap index up 0.71 percent and the BSE small cap index ruling 0.68 percent higher. (IANS)