Mumbai, Jan 3 - Kicking off the new trading year on a positive note, a benchmark index of Indian equities Monday rose in morning trade.

The 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 20,621.61 points, was ruling at 20,652.91 points, up 143.82 points or 0.7 percent from its previous close at 20,509.09 points.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was trading at 6,176.8 points, up 0.69 percent.

Broader markets were also in the positive, with the BSE midcap index ruling 0.89 percent up and the BSE smallcap index trading 0.82 percent higher. (IANS)