Sensex up 97 points in early trade

The benchmark BSE Sensex today rose over 97 points in early trade, extending yesterday’s gains on sustained buying by funds and retail investors amid a mixed trend overseas.

The 30-share index, which had gained 41.88 points in the previous session, gained another 97.40 points, or 0.46 per cent, to 21,171.99 with all the sectoral indices, led by realty and consumer durables, rising up to 1.34 per cent.

Similarly, wide-based National Stock Exchange index, Nifty, edged higher by 28.20 points, or 0.45 per cent to 6,307.10.

Brokers said pick-up in buying, as today being the first session of the new settlement in the derivatives segment, and a mixed trend at the other Asian bourses influenced the trading sentiment here.

In the Asian region, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index was up by 0.15 per cent, while Japan’s Nikkei Index was being quoted 0.32 per cent lower in the morning trade today.

The US the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.75 per cent to close at new record highs after a strong US unemployment report.