A benchmark index for Indian equities begun the week on the positive note and was ruling about 40 points higher an hour into trade Monday.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which belled the day at 17,639.18, stood at 17,682.87 after gaining 38.11 points (0.22%) than its last closure.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was trading at 5,295.55, up 13.55 points (0.26%) from its previous close.

Broader markets were also trading the optimistic zone too, with the BSE midcap index trading 0.45% higher, and the BSE small cap index ruling 0.54% up.

On Friday, Sensex closed the week at 17,644.76, up 85.91 points, while Nifty surged 21.6 to mark its closure at 5,282.

The overall market breadth of the stock market was slightly negative as it witnessed 1,200 progressions as against 1,651 declinations. (With Inputs from Agencies)