MUMBAI: The stock market continued its upward momentum for the third straight session on Tuesday with the Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark, Sensex, rising by over 31 points in early trading on funds and retailers buying.
 
The 30-shares sensitive index, which had gained over 215 points in the last two sessions, gathered another 31.12 points at 11,945.33 in the first five minutes of trading.
 
In similar fashion, the Nifty index on the wide-based National Stock Exchange was up by 11.75 points at 3,488.60.
 
The major gainers were Reliance Industries, Grasim Industries, Tata Consultancy, Cipla, BHEL, Hero Honda, ITC Ltd, Satyam Computer, Hindalco, ONGC and Reliance Energy.
 
Stocks of banking and finance companies were in keen demand following a brisk trading at United Western Bank's counter after reports of some banks interested in the bank’s takeover.