Mumbai, Feb 28 : Ahead of the annual union budget Monday, a benchmark index for the Indian equities markets Monday was ruling higher in the morning session with traders and India Inc hoping for some incentives from Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,811.08 points, was ruling at 17,831.98 points, up 131.07 points or 0.74 percent from its previous close at 17,700.91 points.

The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was trading 0.76 percent higher at 5,344 points.

Broader markets were also trading in the green. The BSE midcap index was up 1.12 percent and the BSE small cap index trading 1.07 percent higher.

PSU, capital goods and energy scrips were in the positive, while auto stocks were losing.

The market breadth was positive, with 1,585 stocks advancing compared to 650 scrips on the decline. A total of 83 stocks remained unchanged.

Among gainers on the 30-scrip Sensex were L&T, Hindustan Unilever, and ONGC, while the losers included Hero Honda, Tata Motors and Hindalco.

Asian markets were ruling moderately higher.(IANS)