Sensex up over 74 points in early trade ahead of RBI policy

The 30-share barometer, which had lost 72.83 points yesterday, recovered by 74.18 points, or 0.39 per cent, to 19,318.60, with all sectoral indices rising up to 0.67 per cent.

Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty gained 21.20 points, or 0.36 per cent, to 5879.10.

Brokers said fresh buying by funds ahead of the RBI's mid-quarter monetary policy to be announced later today, influenced the trading sentiments.

Besides, a firming trend in the Asian region also had a positive impact, they said.

Meanwhile, in Asia, Japan's Nikkei was up by 1.10 per cent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 0.18 per cent.The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.76 per cent higher yesterday.

Stocks to watch-Dec 18

GLOBAL MARKETS ROUND UP

Nifty futures on the Singapore Exchange 0.06 percent higher. The MSCI-Asia Pacific index excluding Japan was 0.26 percent up.

The S&P 500 ended at its highest level in almost two months on Monday on rising hopes that negotiations over the "fiscal cliff" were making progress and that a deal could be reached in days.

Asian shares crept higher on Tuesday, tracking the overnight gains in U.S. stocks on optimism for progress in resolving the U.S. budget crisis before the year-end deadline.

... contd.