The BSE Sensex rose over 250 points in the afternoon trade today. The Sensex was trading at 17001 a short while ago. The Sensex recovered by nearly 164 points in opening trade with auto stocks leading the rise after Hero Moto Corp posted better-than-expected second quarter earnings.A firming trend on Asian bourses in tandem with overnight gains in the US also buoyed the trading sentiment. The 30-share index lost over 334 points in the past two sessions.The wide-based National Stock Exchange Nifty which rose 48 points in opening is trading 42 points higher at 5080 a short while ago.