From correspondents in Maharashtra, India, 10:30 AM IST

Indian equities markets opened in the green Monday, minutes after Finance Minister P. Chidambaram sought to lift the mood of investors by pointing out the inherent strengths of the economy and promising more measures to increase money supply into the financial system if need be.

At just before 10 a.m., the benchmark 30-share index of the Bombay Stock Exchange, the Sensex, was at 10,879.07 points, 351.22 points or 3.49 percent above its close last Friday.

At the same time, the S and amp;P CNX Nifty index of the National Stock Exchange was at 3,377.90 points, 2.99 percent above its previous close.

After days of falling precipitiously, the Australian market and two markets in east Asia had also opened in the green Monday.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)