The BSE benchmark Sensex rose by 95 points in opening trade Monday, with auto, healthcare, metal and PSU sector stocks attracting the maximum attention amid a firming trend in Asia.

The 30-share index of the B S E jumped by 95.81 points, or 0.49 per cent, to Rs 19,604.70 in opening trade Monday, extending the 266.53-point gain registered in the previous session on Friday.

Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange Nifty index moved up by 30.30 points, or 0.48 per cent, to 5,887.00.

Brokers said a firming trend on other Asian bourses came on the back of weekend gains in US markets following the release of upbeat economic and domestic industrial growth data for the world’s largest economy.

Meanwhile, in Asia, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index was up by 0.65 per cent, while Japan’s Nikkei Index was 0.23 per cent higher vis-a-vis the previous close in early trade. In the US, the Dow Jones Industrial Index ended 0.35 per cent higher in the previous session.