Markets open higher ahead of Economic Survey

Markets have started the trading session on a higher note ahead of Economic Survey to be tabled in Parliament today.

The Sensex has opened higher by 94 points at 19,110 mark and the Nifty gained 27 points at 5,789 levels.

On the global front, U.S. stocks rebounded from their worst decline since November on Tuesday after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke defended the Fed's bond-buying stimulus and sales of new homes hit a 4 1/2-year high.

Bernanke, in testimony on Tuesday before the Senate Banking Committee, quieted rumblings that the central bank may pull back from its stimulative policy measures, which were sparked by the release of the Fed minutes last week.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 0.84%, to 13,900 at the close. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index rose 0.61%, to 1,497. The Nasdaq Composite Index advanced or 0.43%, to close at 3,130.

Asian shares rebounded on Wednesday as US equities rose on solid data and the Federal Reserve's affirmation of its commitment to monetary stimulus, but investors remained wary of political gridlock in Italy reigniting the euro zone financial crisis.