Sensex off to a good start, climbs 162 points

The benchmark BSE Sensex rose for the second straight day by gaining over 162 points and the NSE Nifty recrossed the 8,400-mark in early trade today on sustained buying by investors amid a mixed trend overseas.
The 30-share index, which had gained 37.27 points in the previous session, rose further 162.03 points, or 0.58 per cent, to 27,711.56, with healthcare, consumer durables, IT, technology and auto sectors staying in the limelight.
Also, the NSE Nifty regained the 8,400-level, jumping 53.35 points, or 0.63 per cent, to 8,409.20.
Brokers said sustained buying by investors driven by easing inflation, better-than-expected industrial output data and global crude falling to over a six-year low buoyed sentiment.

Among other Asian markets, Hong Kong's Hang Seng was up 0.15 per cent and Shanghai Composite index rose 0.68 per cent while Japan's Nikkei shed 0.37 per cent in early trade today.
The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.03 per cent higher in yesterday's trade.