Sensex extends gains, up 68 points in early trade

The benchmark S&P BSE Sensex rose 68 points in early trade today, extending gains for the third straight session on sustained buying by funds in select bluechips, amid a firm trend in the Asian region.
The 30-share index, which had gained 71.28 points in the previous two sessions, rose further by 67.56 points, or 0.34 per cent, to 19,871.59 points on the back of gains in IT, metal, auto and FMCG sector stocks.
Similarly, the National Stock Exchange index Nifty moved up by 18.85 points, or 0.32 per cent, to 5,869.05 points.
Brokers said sustained buying by funds amid a firm trend in other Asian bourses, as investors await the outcome of the US Federal Reserve meeting, mainly boosted the trading sentiment.

IT stocks such as TCS, Wipro and HCL remained in demand as the rupee weakened further against the dollar.
Among other Asian markets, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose by 0.14 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei gained 0.70 per cent.
The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.23 per cent higher in yesterday's trade.