Sensex marginally up 18 points

The 30-share barometer recovered by 18.29 points, or 0.09 per cent, after yesterday's losses, to 18,864.55.

Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index, Nifty moved up by 5.50 points, or 0.09 per cent, to 5,744.25.

Brokers said fresh buying by participants at select counters helped sentiments to improve but a weak trend in the in the Asian markets following overnight losses on the US market on worries over looming fiscal crisis restricted the gains.

Stocks of United Spirits shot up by 5.23 per cent to Rs 1,414 after reports that the Vijaya-Mallya led UB Group is understood to have reached a deal with world's largest spirit maker Diageo for a stake sale in the company.

In the Asian region, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell by 0.33 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei shed 0.86 per cent in early trade today.

The US dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.94 per cent lower in yesterday's trade.

GLOBAL MARKETS ROUND UP

Nifty futures on the Singapore Exchange fell 0.1 percent. The MSCI-Asia Pacific index excluding Japan also fell 0.3 percent.

U.S. stocks fell on Thursday and could be in line for more weakness as worries about Washington's ability to find a timely solution to the fiscal cliff dominate investor thinking in coming weeks.

Asian shares fell further

... contd.