BSE Sensex rises, recovers from 2-1/2 week lows

Mumbai: BSE Sensex gains 0.37 per cent, while the broader Nifty is up 0.31 per cent, recovering from 2-1/2 week lows hit on Wednesday and on track to snap a four-session losing streak. Banks lead gains on value-buying. ICICI Bank advances 1.24 per cent after falling 4.3 per cent over the previous four sessions after its quarterly earnings disappointed some investors.

Asian shares edged up and the dollar held slim gains amid expectations of an upbeat US payrolls report later in the session, which could show the economy shaking off a severe winter. Shares in technology stocks are gaining on the back of expectations of a better non-farm payroll data, due later in the day. Tata Consultancy Services gains 1.2 per cent, while Infosys Ltd is up by 1.4 per cent.

Overseas investors bought Indian shares worth of $75.3 million on Wednesday, provisional exchange data shows, totalling 55.70 billion rupees for 2014.