The BSE benchmark Sensex today recovered by over 45 points in the opening trade on fresh buying by funds and retailers driven by a firming trend in the Asian region.

The 30-share barometer, which had shed 62.70 points in the previous session on Friday, rose by 45.16 points, or 0.23 per cent, to 19,469.26, led by gains in stocks of consumer durables, realty and capital goods sectors.

Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty moved up by 8.95 points, or 0.15 per cent, to 5,916.35. Brokers said fresh round of buying by major players largely in line with a firming trend in Asian share markets boosted by gains on the US markets on Friday on positive economic data, influenced trading sentiments.

Besides, expectations of an interest rate cut by the Reserve Bank also supported the recovery move, they said. Stocks of Wipro, country’s third largest software services provider, shot up by 1.96 per cent to Rs 387 on reports that the company has acquired a Singapore-based consumer goods company.

Meanwhile, in Asia, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose by 0.45 per cent, while Japan’s Nikkei gained 0.24 per cent.
The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.62 per cent higher on Friday.