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Indian equity benchmarks started Friday's session on a mildly positive note, amid gains across most other Asian markets despite a sharp slump on Wall Street overnight.  Both headline indices opened 0.2 percent higher. The 30-scrip Sensex index began the day up 130.6 points at 58,918.7 and the broader Nifty50 benchmark at 17,590, up 30 points from its previous close.

Equities in other Asian markets rose on Friday despite a slump on Wall Street overnight after a dire forecast by Facebook. MSCI's broadest index of Asia Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.9 percent at the last count.

Japan's Nikkei 225 was up 0.4 percent, Hong Kong's Hang Seng 2.3 percent and South Korea's KOSPI 0.9 percent. Singapore's Straits Times was up 0.2 percent. The China market remained shut for the Lunar New Year holidays.