The B SE benchmark Sensex on Monday opened about 147 points higher than the previous close, spurred by widespread buying by funds on firm Asian market trend.

The 30-share index, which had lost 16.88 points in the earlier session, shot up by 146.34 points to 18,367.77 points, a raise of 0.80 per cent, in the first five minutes of trading.

All the sectoral indices, led by metal and realty sector, were trading in positive zone, with gains up to 1.40 per cent.

The broad-based National Stock Exchange index, Nifty also gained 41.95 points to trade at 5,521.35 points.

Brokers said fresh buying by funds and retail investors in stocks, especially metals and realty sectors, followed firm Asian market sentiment, buoyant on positive US employment data released last week.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was up by 1.23 per cent, while the Japanese Nikkei gained 1.31 per cent in the morning trade on Monday.

The US Dow Jones Industrial average ended 1.24 per cent higher in the previous session on Friday.