MUMBAI: The BSE benchmark Sensex recovered by over 130 points in early trade on emergence of buying by funds and retail investors amidst a firming trend in the global markets.

Covering-up of short positions by speculators in some stocks also helped trading sentiments to improve.

The 30-share index rose by 130.02 points, or 0.59 per cent, to 21,870.11, with all the sectoral indices led by realty and capital goods trading in positive zone, rising up to 0.97 per cent. The index had lost 92.77 points in the previous session.

The wide-based Nifty of the National Stock Exchange, regained its 6,500-level by recovering 35.30 points, or 0.54 per cent, to trade at 6,518.40.

Brokers said value-based buying by funds and retail investors at select counters, having strong fundamentals amidst a better trend on the other Asian markets after U.S. markets posted gains on Thursday on fresh positive economic data, mainly buoyed the trading sentiment in India.

In other Asian markets, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 0.16 per cent in early trade, while Japan’s market closed for a public holiday.

The U.S. Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.67 per cent higher.