Sensex opens 104 points higher

The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex recovered by over 104 points in opening trade today on emergence of selective buying by funds and retail investors amid a firming trend on other Asian bourses.

However, activity remained restricted ahead of the release of quarterly GDP numbers later today. The 30-share barometer, which lost 34.04 points in yesterday's session, recovered by 104.58 points, or 0.57%, to 18.336.65 in opening trade, with stocks of realty, healthcare, banking, capital goods and information technology companies leading the recovery.

The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty also moved up by 34.55 points, or 0.63%, to 5,507.65. Brokers said fresh selective buying by funds and investors at prevailing levels and a firming trend on other
Asian bourses mainly helped the trading sentiment to improve.

They said, however, participants were cautious and kept their activity restricted ahead of the quarterly GDP numbers to be announced later today. Meanwhile, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose by 0.85% and Japan's Nikkei by 1.16% in early trade today.