Sensex strengthens, up 87 points in early trade

The benchmark BSE Sensex rose over 87 points in early trade today, extending gains for the fifth straight session, on sustained buying by investors and domestic financial institutions.

Overnight rally of the US markets and a mixed trend at other Asian markets in the opening trade today also supported the pace.

The 30-share index, which had gained 393.66 points in the past four sessions, advanced by 87.01 points, or 0.33 per cent, at 26,256.42 with sectoral indices like metal, oil & gas, consumer durables, healthcare and PSU trading in the positive terrain.

On similar lines, the 50-share NSE Nifty moved up by 24.40 points, or 0.30 per cent, to 7,979.30.

Brokers said continued buying by participants, backed by India's growth data of 7.4 per cent in the July-September quarter and RBI adopting an accommodative stance by leaving rates unchanged at its fifth bi-monthly policy review yesterday helped the domestic markets.

Among other Asian markets, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose 0.23 per cent while Japan's Nikkei was trading 0.27 per cent lower in early trade.

The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.95 per cent higher in yesterday's trade.