A benchmark index for Indian equities, the sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), on Monday opened marginally lower but soon headed north and was trading at 26,224.55 points some 30 minutes after the opening bell.Although the barometer at BSE opened lower, it rose shortly to 26,169.90 points at 9.20 a.m. and further climbed to touch 26,229.07 points at 9.43 a.m.The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also trading higher at 7,954.40 points, with a gain of 11.70 points or 0.15 percent.The 30-share Sensex opened at 26,114.52 points, against the previous close at 26,128.20 points on last Friday.At 9.45 a.m. it was ruling at 26,224.55 points, with a gain of 96.35 points or 0.37 percent.