Sensex gains 57 points in opening trade

Mumbai, Feb 3 (PTI) The Sensex gained over 57 points inopening trade on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) today onselective buying by cautious investors in the absence of anycues from other Asian markets.

The 30-share index of the BSE, which rose by 68.40 pointsin yesterday''s volatile session, moved up by 57.32 points, or0.31 per cent, to 18,147.94 today, with metal, IT and bankingstocks leading the rise.

In a similar fashion, the broad-based National StockExchange Nifty index gained 10.35 points, or 0.19 per cent, to5,442.35 points.

Brokers said buying by funds, though selective, helpedthe Sensex open in positive terrain. However, in the absenceof cues from other Asian markets, which are closed on accountof a public holiday to mark the Lunar New Year, participantsadopted a cautious approach.

However, Japan''s Nikkei was open for trade and wasmarginally down in the early part of the session. The US DowJones Industrial Average closed 0.02 per cent higher inyesterday''s trade.