Mumbai, January 04: The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex on Monday rose by 72 points, or 0.41 per cent, in early trade with markets opening at 0900 hrs on the first trading session in the New Year.
The Sensex moved up by 72.51 points to 17,537.32 points in choppy opening trade on buying in heavyweight stocks by foreign funds and retail investors tracking firm global cues.
The broader National Stock Exchange Nifty gained 23 points, or 0.44 per cent to 5,224.05 points.
The BSE and the National Stock Exchange have advanced the trading timing to 0900 hrs from today with a view to better align the domestic markets with the Asian bourses.
Brokers said the mood on the first session in the New Year remained upbeat with stocks of auto sector leading the rally, buoyed by strong growth in vehicle sales in December.
Besides, firming trends on the other Asian bourses also boosted the trading sentiments here, they added.
The BSE auto sector index shot up by 1.19 percent to 7,524.22 as stocks of Mahindra and Mahindra shot up by 2.70 percent to Rs 1,110, Tata Motors by 1.48 percent to Rs 804.35, Maruti Suzuki by 0.98 percent to Rs 1,574 and Hero Honda by 0.09 percent to Rs 1,718.
Other gainers which supported the Sensex were Tata Power by 1.31 percent to Rs 1,396, NTPC by 0.34 percent to Rs 236.50, Sun Pharma by 1.41 percent to Rs 1,528.35 and HDFC Ltd by 1.05 percent to Rs 2,706.
-PTI