The BSE benchmark Sensex was down by 10 points in early trade on Tuesday amid mild selling pressure on weak Asian advices, but the NSE Nifty managed to pare early losses and was up by almost 2 points as of 1015 hours.

The 30-share Bombay Stock Exchange Sensex index resumed lower at 20,461.98 and hovered between 20,512.97 and 20,406.32 points in morning trade.

The market barometer was down by 9.69 points, or 0.05 per cent, at 20,466.04 at 1015 hours.

However, the National Stock Exchange’s 50-share Nifty index edged up by 1.95 points, or 0.03 per cent, to 6,161.40 at 1015 hours from its last close.

Meanwhile, Asian stock markets retreated in early trade after a disappointing drop in US factory orders and a subsequent fall on Wall Street.

The key benchmark indices in Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea fell by 0.01 per cent to 0.71 per cent, while indices in Japan and Indonesia edged up by 0.02 per cent to 0.21 per cent.