The BSE benchmark Sensex recovered by 13 points in early trade on 
Thursday on the back of buying in select counters, mainly FMCG, IT, PSU and capital goods, despite selling in realty, healthcare, auto and banking stocks.
The 30-share Sensex resumed higher at 18,514.65 and hovered in a range between 18,566.99 and 18,419.98 before quoting at 18,515.24 points at 1015 hours, showing a gain of 12.86 points, or 0.07 per cent, from its last close.
However, the NSE’s 50-share Nifty index eased by 4.55 points, or 0.08 per cent, to 5,562.50 at 1015 hours.
The major gainers in early trade were ITC, Infosys, Hindustan Unilever, ONGC and Tata Motors.
However, HDFC Bank, Hindalco, Hero Honda, BHEL and Cipla declined at the bourses.
Asian stocks edged lower in early trade after the preliminary results of a key survey on Chinese manufacturing hit a 28-month low, while investors awaited signs of progress on Europe’s sovereign debt crisis.
The key benchmark indices in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan fell by between 0.04 per cent and 0.62 per cent.
