MUMBAI: The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex gained 149 points in early trade today on sustained buying in stocks led by those of cement manufacturing firms.

The 30-share index, which gained over 300 points in previous day's trading, added another 148.99 at 17,799.56 points in the first five minutes of trading.

Wide-based C&X Nifty of the National Stock Exchange index rose 23.60 points to 5,254.30 as most of index-related stock made noteable gains.