The BSE benchmark Sensex today rose over 209 points in early trade, extending gains for the second straight session on sustained buying by funds and retail investors triggered by smart corporate earnings and a firming trend overseas.
The 30-share index, which had gained nearly 101 points in the previous session, rose by 209.09 points, or 1.08 per cent, to 19,596.59 in early trade, with all the sectoral indices, led by FMCG and metals, trading in the positive zone with gains of up to 3.55 per cent.
Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty rose by 48.45 points, or 0.82 per cent, to 5,952.55.
Brokers said besides better earnings by some blue-chip companies, a firming trend in the Asian region following overnight gains on the US and in European markets, expectations of a rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India in its policy meet on May 3, buoyed the trading sentiment here.
Meanwhile, in Asia, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose by 0.80 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei shed 0.2 per cent.
The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.72 per cent higher in yesterday's trade.
