MUMBAI: The Bombay Stock Exchange Benchmark 30-share Index (sensex) on Saturday opened firm and crossed the 12,000 mark in first few minutes of trading for a special session after the overnight mayhem on the bourses.

The Sensex opened strong at 11,881.51 and spurted to a high of 12,032.74, up by 180.81 points over previous close of 11,851.93.