Indian bourses started the day on a positive note, but trading is expected to be muted amid mixed worldwide signals.

The large-cap scrips may remain unresponsive whilst the non-index counters could continue to dominate the public interest.

The overall breadth of the stock market was optimistic.

Capitalists seemed to be ignoring fears over increasing crude oil rates and its impact on inflationary figures and monetary plan.

China yesterday lifted key lending as well as depository rates by 25 bps in order to check inflation. Also, central banking institutions in the eurozone may declare plans to augment borrowing costs this week.

At 09: 28 a. m., the BSE Sensex surged 94 points to trade at 19,781 as against its last closure.

The broad-based Nifty gained 24 points to trade at 5,934 over the previous close.

The BSE Small Cap index and the BSE Mid Cap index were trading on a flat note.

The top gainers in the Sensex and the Nifty were Sesa Goa, Grasim, M&M, Sterlite, Hindalco, ONGC, Maruti, IDFC, BPCL and HUL.

In contrast, the major losers in the Sensex and the Nifty comprised Sun Pharma, Ranbaxy, PNB, ITC, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Infosys, Amuja Cement and HDFC Bank.

Outside equities, gold rates hit record high amid continual safe haven buying as investors worry over the MENA havoc, eurozone debt fears and high crude oil prices.

Oil rates were hovering near 30-month high while the US currency gained.