The BSE benchmark Sensex rose by over 98 points in early trade today as stocks of realty and IT sectors led recovery on fresh buying by funds and retailers amid a firm trend in Asian region.

The 30-share barometer, which had lost 135.85 points in the previous session, rebounded by 98.07 points, or 0.53 per cent, to 18,675.77. All the sectoral indices led by realty traded in positive zone with gains of up to 1.34 per cent.

Shares in Indian software services provider HCL Technologies rose 2.5 percent in pre-open trade On the similar lines, the wide-based Indian Stock Exchange index, Nifty moved up by 28.45 points, or 0.50 per cent, to 5676.45.

Brokers said fresh buying by participants amid a firm trend in Asian region in line with overnight gains on European and US markets following Moody’s decision not to downgrade Spain’s credit rating and positive US economic data, mainly led the recovery on the domestic boures here.

In Asian region, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose 0.91 per cent, while Japan’s Nikkei gained 1.33 per cent in early trade today. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.95 per cent higher yesterday.

UK stock closing: Britain’s top share index notched up strong gains on Tuesday, and was on the cusp of breaking out of its recent trading range, as investors welcomed a media report saying Germany could adopt a softer approach towards financial aid to Spain.

The index was already firmly in positive territory, helped by solid U.S. corporate results and macro data, and a German ZEW survey pointing to a bigger than expected pick up in analyst and investor sentiment this month.

Shares of RIL today pared initial gains to close over one per cent lower on intense selling, a day after the company announced 5.7 per cent drop in second quarter profit. The scrip of the country’s most valued firm settled at Rs 813.25, down 1.21 per cent from its last close on the BSE.