Sensex marginally up by over 19 points in early trade

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The BSE benchmark Sensex on Thursday recovered marginally by over 19 points in early trade on selective buying by funds and retailers, tracking a better trend in Asian markets.

The 30-share barometer, which had lost 127.53 points on Wednesday, recovered by 19.18 points, or 0.11 per cent, to 17,332.52 with stocks of IT, realty and metal sectors leading the recovery.

Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty was up 2.65 points, or 0.05 per cent, at 5,228.35.

Brokers said fresh buying activity amid a better trend in Asian bourses ahead of a European Central Bank meeting that may announce plans to buy up the debt of under-pressure countries, aimed at easing the eurozone debt crisis, helped the trading sentiment to improve.

In the Asian region, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose by 0.06 per cent, while Japan's nikkei index up 0.16 per cent in opening trade.

The US Dow Jones industrial average index ended 0.09 per cent lower on Wednesday.