Sensex up 128 points in early trade

The benchmark BSE Sensex surged nearly 128 points in early trade today, extending gains for the fourth straight session, on sustained buying by funds amid a firm trend on other Asian bourses.

The 30-share index, which had gained 101.48 points in the previous three sessions, rose further by 127.87 points, or 0.63%, to 20,438.61, with stocks of healthcare, realty and metal sectors leading the rise.

All the sectoral indices were trading in the positive zone with gains up to 1.18%. The National Stock Exchange index Nifty gained 34.40 points, or 0.57%, to 6,070.70. Marketmen said sustained buying by funds amid a firming trend in other Asian bourses, following overnight gains on the US markets ahead of the release of crucial jobs data, influenced the trading sentiment here.

In Asia, Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose by 0.35%, while Japan's Nikkei was up by 1.64% in early trade. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 1.22% higher in yesterday's trade.