The BSE benchmark Sensex staged a strong comeback by recovering over 600 points in opening trade Friday following fresh purchases made by domestic investors ahead of key macroeconomic data to be released later in the day, fall in global crude prices and rupee recovery.


Positive leads from most other Asian markets too fuelled the uptrend. The 30-share Sensex climbed 639.80 points, or 1.88 per cent, to 34,640.95 with all the sectoral indices trading in the positive zone.


The gauge had plummeted over 750 points to end at a six-month low. The NSE Nifty was trading above the 10,400-mark, up 174.30 points, or 1.70 per cent, at 10,408.95.


Meanwhile, the rupee strengthened by 38 paise to 73.74 against the US dollar in early trade in the forex market after global crude prices eased. Brokers said besides rupee recovery, built-up of positions by investors ahead of index of industrial production numbers for August and inflation data for September - to be released later in the day - too impacted investor sentiment here. -- PTI