Sensex up 42 points in early trade

Besides, covering-up of short positions by speculators as today is the last session of current month's expiry in the derivatives segment also helped Sensex extend gains for third session in a row, traders said.

The 30-share barometer, which had gained 85.60 points in the previous two sessions, gained 42.24 points, or 0.24 per cent, to 17,010 with power, metals and consumer durables sector stocks leading the rise.

The wide-based National Stock Exchange Nifty index moved up by 12.40 points, or 0.24 per cent, to 5,154.30.

In Asia, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was up 0.10 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei Index rose by 1.07 per cent in morning trade.

In the US, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 0.74 per cent higher yesterday.