Mumbai: The BSE benchmark Sensex recovered by over 77 points in early trade on September 27on the back of covering-up of short positions by participants in view of monthly expiry in the derivatives segment.

The 30-share index, which had shed 62.24 points on September 26 , moved up by 77.13 points, or 0.41 percent, to 18,709.30.

All sectoral indices, led by auto and consumer durables, were trading in the positive zone with gains of up to 0.68 percent.

Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty was up 21.95 points, or 0.38 percent, to 5,685.40.

Brokers said covering-up of pending short positions by participants as Thursday is the last session of current month's expiry in the derivatives segment influenced the trading sentiments.

Besides, increased buying in small and mid-cap stocks by retail investors supported the recovery, they said.

Meanwhile, in Asia, Hong Kong market gained 0.44 percent, while Japan's Nikkei Index fell by 0.21 percent.

The U.S. dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.33 percent down on September 26 trade.