The BSE benchmark index Sensex recovered nearly 60 points in early trade today on fresh buying by funds and retailers amid a firming trend in Asian markets.

The 30-share index, which had lost 84.86 points in the precious session, recovered by 59.93 points, or 0.34 per cent, to 17,682.38 in first five minutes of trading, with IT, realty and metal stocks leading the recovery.

The wide-based Nifty of the National Stock Exchange moved up by 13.35 points, or 0.25 per cent, to 5,348.50.

Brokers said fresh buying by funds and retailers amid firming trend on other Asian bourses supported by overnight gains on Wall Street mainly influenced the trading sentiment.

In Asia, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose by 0.60 per cent and Japan's Nikkei Index by 0.58 per cent in early trade.

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The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended higher by 0.26 per cent on Tuesday.