Sensex crosses 20,000 mark in morning trade

MUMBAI - A benchmark index of Indian equities Friday was ruling moderately higher, having breached the 20,000 mark on opening.

The 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 20,007.89 points, was ruling at 20,034.15 points - up 41.45 points or 0.21 percent from its previous close at 19,992.7 points.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was trading at 6,023.75 points, up 0.2 percent.

Broader markets were also in the red, with the BSE midcap index ruling 0.44 percent down and the BSE smallcap index trading 0.79 percent lower.