Mumbai, April 19: Taking a cue from global markets, the key Indian equity market indices on Thursday opened higher.

The Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE, which had closed at 34,331.68 points on Wednesday, opened higher at 34,403.67 points.

Minutes into trading, it was quoting at 34,446.68 points, up by 115 points, or 0.33 per cent.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 51-scrip Nifty, which had closed at 10,526.20 points on Wednesday, was quoting at 10,564.15 points, up by 37.95 points or 0.36 per cent.

Profit booking, along with heavy selling pressure in the banking sector stock led the key Indian equity indices to break their nine-day gaining streak on Wednesday.

According to market observers, the key equity indices, however, had traded in the green for the better part of the session on the back of positive global cues and forecast of normal monsoon rains.

The Sensex was down by 63.38 points or 0.18 per cent at the Wednesday's closing. In the day's trade, the barometer 30-scrip sensitive index had touched a high of 34,591.81 points and a low of 34,270.04 points. The Nifty too, was down by 22.50 points or 0.21 per cent.

On Thursday, Asian indices were showing a positive trend. Japan's Nikkei 225 was quoting in green, up by 0.51 per cent while Hang Seng up by 1.33 per cent, South Korea's Kospi was up by 0.34 per cent. China's Shanghai Composite index was trading in green, up by 0.78 per cent.

Nasdaq closed in green, up by 0.19 per cent, while FTSE 100 was also up by 1.25 percent at the closing on Wednesday.

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Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Friday said efforts are on to bring Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, who is facing charges of sexual abuse against women, back to India.

He also asserted that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case was functioning efficiently.

The 33-year-old Prajwal, who is the grandson of JD(S) patriarch and former PM H D Deve Gowda, is facing charges of multiple instances of sexually abusing women.

The scandal has raised a political storm with the ruling Congress and BJP-JD(S) engaged in a slugfest.

Prajwal reportedly left for Germany on April 27 and is still at large.

He was BJP-JD(S) alliance's candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha segment, which went to polls in the first phase on April 26.

"Procedures are on, until we secure him, bring him back here and take action in accordance with law, they will continue. We will neither slow it nor stop it," Parameshwara told reporters on questions about the Interpol's Blue Corner Notice that was issued against Prajwal.

On BJP alleging that the government was "responsible" for Prajwal's "escape" from the country, the Minister said, "They will say it, they have to say such things. They cannot say the government is doing a good job. But we have a responsibility as a government. Such incidents cannot be taken lightly. We will do our job."

Accusing the Congress government of trying to tarnish the reputation of Deve Gowda's family instead of ensuring justice to victims of alleged sex videos scandal case involving Prajwal, JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy had recently alleged that every bit of information on the investigation is being sent to a Congress MLA of Mandya district, but not the Home Minister.

Reacting to this, Parameshwara said: "Kumaraswamy is also well aware, several things we cannot bring to the public domain, because the investigation is on. Who will brief the Mandya MLA? Making such allegations is easy. We all have responsibility and we are functioning with responsibility, and we are not under any compulsions."

"I want to tell him (Kumaraswamy) that SIT is working efficiently, and whatever they have to brief me or the Chief Minister, they will brief. Let there be no doubts about it," he said.