The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex opened over 154 points higher in opening trade today on global cues that led to buying in heavy-weight stocks, especially in the communications sector. The 30-share index, which had lost 255 points in the previous session, rose by 154 points or 0.82 per cent to 17,868 points in the first ten minutes of trading. Market men said trading sentiment turned bullish in communications stocks ahead of the auction of third generation mobile technology spectrum today. The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty moved up by 40 points, or 0.76 per cent to 5345 points.