From correspondents in Maharashtra, India, 11:00 AM IST

Indian equity markets gained ground early Wednesday following strong cues from other Asian markets. There was buying interest in capital goods, technology, banking and select metal stocks.

The 30-share benchmark index of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the Sensex, opened with a gain of 64.59 points at 12,740.78. Ten minutes into trading, it was at 12,762.80 points, a gain of 86.61 points or 0.68 percent from its closing figure Tuesday.

At the same time the S and amp;P CNX Nifty index of the National Stock Exchange was trading at 3,916.30 points with a gain of 55.20 points or 1.43 percent from its last close.

The market breadth was positive. On BSE, 647 shares advanced, 326 declined and 21 remained unchanged.

Ranbaxy Labs, Reliance Infrastructure and HDFC were among the major gainers while Tata Motors, Grasim Industries and NTPC Ltd were among the losers in early trade.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)