INDIA STOCKS-Indian shares inch higher at the open on trade deal optimism

July 3 (Reuters) - Indian shares opened marginally higher on Thursday, tracking gains in Asian markets after a U.S.–Vietnam trade deal, while investors eye progress on a potential U.S.–India agreement.

The Nifty 50 .NSEI rose 0.27% to 25,520.8 points and the BSE Sensex .BSESN added 0.28% to 83,649.07 as of 9:20 a.m. IST.

Twelve of the 13 major sectors logged gains. The broader, more domestically focussed small-caps .NIFSMCP100 and mid-caps .NIFMDCP100 rose 0.3% each.

The U.S. will place a 20% tariff on many Vietnamese exports, President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, announcing a deal just days ahead of a July 9 deadline before he ramps up tariffs on most imports. The move is expected to help ease trade tensions.

U.S. and Indian trade negotiators were pushing on Wednesday to try to land a tariff-reducing deal, but disagreements over U.S. dairy and agriculture remained unresolved, Reuters reported, citing sources.

Asian markets ticked up on Thursday, with the MSCI Asia ex-Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS rising 0.2%. MKTS/GLOB