Benchmark indices opened higher on Thursday, tracking positive global cues, ahead of the release of data on factory output (IIP) for July and retail inflation (CPI inflation) for August set to be released later in the day.

Investors also await a meeting of European Central Bank (ECB) later today. With growth slowing, the ECB has all but promised more support for the economy in one of the most closely watched meetings in years.

All the Nifty sectoral indices, except Nifty IT, were trading in the green. Nifty Metal climbed the most 1.2 per cent.

At 9:40 hours, the 30-share benchmark index was trading at 37396.27 up by 125.45 points or by 0.34 % and then NSE Nifty was at 11064 up by 28.3 points or by 0.26 %. Sensex touched intraday high of 37421.13 and intraday low of 37320.57 The NSE Nifty touched intraday high of 11080.35 and intraday low of 11052.25.

The top gainers of the BSE Sensex pack were Tata Steel Ltd. (Rs. 375.35,+2.25%), ICICI Bank Ltd. (Rs. 402.90,+2.17%), State Bank of India (Rs. 288.45,+1.10%), Oil And Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. (Rs. 126.90,+0.95%), IndusInd Bank Ltd. (Rs. 1384.35,+0.92%), among others. The top losers of the BSE Sensex pack were YES Bank Ltd. (Rs. 70.40,-1.68%), Tata Motors Ltd. (Rs. 60.70,-1.46%), Bharti Airtel Ltd. (Rs. 352.55,-0.76%), Infosys Ltd. (Rs. 813.90,-0.76%), Tata Motors Ltd. (Rs. 133.45,-0.67%), among others.

Metal index was at 9098.32 up by 117.93 points or by 1.31%. Jindal Steel & Power Ltd. (Rs. 111.45,+3.67%), Tata Steel Ltd. (Rs. 375.20,+2.21%), National Aluminium Company Ltd. (Rs. 45.35,+2.14%), JSW Steel Ltd. (Rs. 231.60,+1.71%), Steel Authority of India (SAIL) Ltd. (Rs. 34.70,+1.61%),.

CDS index was at 23463.66 up by 201.4 points or by 0.87%. VIP Industries Ltd. (Rs. 405.80,+1.73%), Blue Star Ltd. (Rs. 735.15,+1.56%), PC Jeweller Ltd. (Rs. 32.85,+1.55%), Voltas Ltd. (Rs. 640.00,+1.17%), Titan Company Ltd. (Rs. 1111.10,+0.96%),.

The Market breadth, indicating the overall strength of the market, was weak. On BSE out of total shares traded 1086 , shares advanced were 806 while 248 shares declined and 32 were unchanged.