The benchmark BSE Sensex on Thursday recovered by 155.35 points in early trade largely on the back of covering-up of pending short positions in view of monthly expiry in the derivatives segment amid a firming trend in the Asian region.

The 30-share index rose by 155.35 points, or 0.76 percent, to trade at 20,575.61.

The Sensex had lost 184.82 points in the previous two sessions. All sectoral indices were trading in the positive zone with gains up to 1.24 percent.

The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty recovered by 44.60 points, or 0.74 percent, to 6,101.70.

Brokers said covering-up of short positions by participants as today being the last session of current month expiry in the derivatives segment and a firming trend in the Asian region, in line with overnight gains on the US markets fuelled by upbeat jobs figures, mainly influenced the trading sentiment.

In the Asian region, Japan’s Nikkei Index was up 1.18 percent, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index gained 0.68 percent in early trade.

The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.15 percent higher in Wednesday’s trade.