Sensex up 54 points on fresh derivatives buying for November series

Recovering from a four-day losing run, the benchmark BSE Sensex opened 54 points higher at 26,892.45 in early trade on Friday on fresh buying by investors as the November derivatives series began on a positive note.

However, caution prevailed ahead of the announcement of earnings numbers by some blue-chip companies including ICICI Bank and L&T.

The 30-share Sensex, at 1000 hours, was trading up 4.07 points, or 0.02% at 26,842.21 which has lost 632.67 points in the previous four sessions

Realty, healthcare, banking and power sectoral indices of BSE were in the positive zone.

Also, the NSE Nifty was quoting 13.30 points or 0.16% higher at 8,125.05.

Brokers said building-up of positions by participants, following beginning of the November month F&O series helped Sensex recover, but a weak trend at other Asian markets on overnight losses on the US markets capped the gains.

Among other Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei shed 0.77%, Shanghai Composite index fell 0.19% while Hong Kong's Hang Seng was down 0.57% in early trade.

The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.13% lower on Thursday trade.