Sensex extends gains, up 58 pts in early trade

Market benchmark BSE Sensex pulled off a rosy start as it rallied further by over 58 points to 24,396.99 today on sustained buying by investors amid a mixed trend at other Asian markets.
The 30-share index, which gained 115.11 points in the previous session, added 58.56 points, or 0.24 per cent, to 24,396.99, with stocks of banking, metal, capital goods, consumer durables, auto and FMCG leading the gains.
The NSE Nifty was also trading higher by 23.30 points, or 0.31 per cent, at 7,427.30.
Brokers said an increased buying by investors in blue-chip stocks amid a mixed trend at other Asian markets and overnight gains at the US markets, mainly influenced the sentiment.

However, shares of Tata Steel plunged 3.65 per cent to Rs 217.90 after the company yesterday reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 2,127.23 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2015.
Among other Asian markets, Hong Kong's Hang Seng was trading higher by 0.54 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei fell by 1.49 per cent in early trade. Shanghai's Composite index was marginally up by 2.06 points.
The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.49 per cent higher in yesterday's trade.