(Updates for market open)

Oct 15 (Reuters) -

Indian shares inched higher at open on Wednesday, tracking

gains across Asian markets on strengthening bets for a U.S.

Federal Reserve rate cut later this month.

The Nifty 50 rose 0.14% to 25,181.95, while the BSE

Sensex added 0.2% to 82,197.25, as of 9:15 a.m. IST.

Fifteen of the 16 major sectors advanced at open. The

broader mid-caps and small-caps

gained 0.3% each.

On Tuesday, Fed Chair Jerome Powell noted that the U.S.

labour market remained weak, while the economy appeared to be on

a firmer footing, adding that the inflation outlook remains

unchanged from September, when the central bank cut rates by 25

basis points.

Lower U.S. interest rates make emerging markets like India

attractive to foreign investors as dollar and Treasury yields

are typically lower.