INDIA STOCKS — Indian shares open higher as oil eases; IPO rush limits gains

(Updates for markets open) Sept 18 (Reuters) — Indian shares opened higher on Friday, helped by lower oil prices and bargain buying after recent losses, though Middle East tensions and strong demand for domestic IPOs capped gains. The Nifty 50 rose 0.20% to 23,315.80, while the BSE Sensex added 0.22% to 74,474.19, as of 9:23 a.m. IST. Fifteen of the 16 major sectors logged gains. The broader small-caps and mid-caps gained 0.2% each. Most Tata group stocks fell, with TCS, Tata Motors PV, Tata Investment, Tata Chemicals losing 2.5%-7%. They had advanced in the previous session after Tata Sons reappointed N. Chandrasekaran as chairman and said it would consider a public listing, while shareholder Shapoorji Pallonji Group has proposed selling part of its stake. Brent crude was down 0.9% at $104 a barrel as hopes that alternative routes could keep Middle Eastern barrels flowing to global markets outweighed concerns over renewed strikes involving Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthi forces. O/R Five Indian IPOs are currently open for subscription, including the National Stock Exchange of India's issue, which was subscribed 0.43 times on the first day of bidding. (Reporting by Bharath Rajeswar