Mumbai: The BSE Sensex rises more than 140 points while the broader Nifty gains 40

Software services exporters gain with Tata Consultancy Services up 0.5 percent and Infosys up 0.5 percent, up for a second day on rising hopes about the outlook for overseas demand. Shares in Tata Steel were trading nearly 3 percent lower after posting a smaller-than-expected third-quarter profit on Tuesday. Overseas investors sold 26.5 million dollar worth of Indian shares, exchange data showed, continuing the selling streak for a ninth consecutive session.

The benchmark BSE Sensex today rose over 104 points in early trade, extending yesterday's gain on sustained buying by funds ahead of industrial output data amid a firm trend in the global markets.

The 30-share index rose by 104.43 points, or 0.51 per cent, to 20,467.80 points with banking, IT, realty, auto and oil and gas sectoral indices leading the rise by gaining up to 0.83 per cent. The index had gained 29.10 points in the previous session. The wide-based Nifty of the National Stock Exchange moved up by 28.95 points, or 0.48 per cent, to 6,091.65.

Brokers said increased buying by participants ahead of industrial production (IIP) data for December, to be released later in the day and a firming trend in the global markets on new head of the U.S. Federal Reserve's promise of continuity in central bank monetary policy mainly boosted the trading sentiments.

Besides, narrowing trade gap after exports grew by 3.79 per cent in January to USD 26.7 billion was another positive factor, they said. In the Asian markets, Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose by 0.43 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei by 0.94 per cent in early trade today. The U.S. Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.22 per cent in recent trade.

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