Sensex up 161 points in early trade

The 30-share barometer added 160.74 points, or 0.87 per cent, to 18,722.44 with stocks of realty, auto, banking and healthcare sectors leading the rise. The index had gained over 130 points in the previous two sessions.

The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty moved up by 44.85 points, or 0.79 per cent, to 5,689.90.

Brokers said the trading sentiment remained firm on continued buying by funds and retail investors largely on encouraging earnings and a firming trend in the Asian region, tracking Wall Street's gains on strong US economic data.

Stocks of Wipro shot up by 1.44 per cent to Rs 366.60 after the company reported a jump of 23.8 per cent in consolidated net profit for the second quarter.

In the Asian region, Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose by 1.02 per cent, while the Japan's Nikkei by 1.31 per cent in early trade today. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 1.04 per cent higher yesterday.