Sensex up 67 points to again touch 22,000 level in early trade

Rising for the sixth straight session, the benchmark BSE Sensex gained over 67 points to trade over the 22,000 level in early trade today on sustained fund inflows.

The 30-share index, which had surged 988 points in the previous five sessions, gained 67.24 points, or 0.30%, to trade at 22,002.07 with banking, power, realty and capital goods sector stocks leading the rising streak. The 50-share NSE Nifty also edged higher by 23.45 points, or 0.35%, to 6,560.70.

Brokers said buying activity gathered momentum as foreign funds and retail investors engaged in enlarging their positions in several stocks having strong fundamentals on expectations of better industrial production data for January, to be released tomorrow which helped the Sensex to trade above the 22,000 level.

Besides, a mixed trend on other Asian bourses also generated buying by funds, they said. Among other Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei rose 0.39% while Hong Kong's Hang Seng shed 0.14% in early trade today.