Mumbai: The BSE benchmark Sensex advanced further by 142 points in early trade today on persistent buying by investors in realty, oil & gas, banking and metal stocks on the back of higher Asian cues. The BSE benchmark Sensex resumed higher at 18,105.61 and hovered in a range between 18,224.18 and 18,087.16 before quoting at 18,186.69 at 1015 hours, showing a net gain of 142.05 points, or 0.79 per cent, from its last close. The NSE's 50-share Nifty index also rose by 37.20 points, or 0.69 percent, to 5,449.55 at 1015 hours. Index heavyweight Reliance Industries (RIL) nudged higher in early trade today, while banking stocks gained for the second straight day. The market breadth was strong. Reliance Infrastructure (R-Infra) and Reliance Power (RPower) rose ahead of their Q4 results due today. Among the major gainers from the Sensex pack, Hindalco Industries firmed up by 3.43 per cent, ICICI Bank by 2.48 per cent, Jaiprakash Associates by 2.45 per cent, R-Infra by 1.96 per cent, M&M by 1.81 percent, DLF by 1.71 per cent, Reliance by 1.16 per cent and RCom by 1.68 percent. Most Asian stocks rose yesterday, tracking overnight gains in U.S. stocks. The key benchmark indices in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan rose by between 0.05 per cent and 0.74 percent. However, the key benchmark indices in China and Japan fellby between 0.04 per cent and 0.1 percent. Trading in US index futures indicated that the Dow could gain 20 points at the opening bell