Mumbai: Fresh buying at metal, oil&gas and auto counters pushed up the BSE benchmark Sensex by 71 points in early trade today amid firm Asian markets. A bout of initial volatility was witnessed as the key benchmark indices regained strength after paring gains from a firm opening triggered by higher Asian stocks. The BSE benchmark Sensex resumed higher at 17,917.11 and shot up further to 17,984.94 before quoting at 17,917.91 at 1015 hours, showing a net gain of 70.67 points, or 0.40 percent. The NSE's 50-share Nifty also moved up by 22.70 points, or 0.42 percent, to 5,371.65 at 1015 hours. Bargain hunting emerged after a recent steep slide in share prices. Tata Steel surged after reporting turnaround results for the year ended March, 2011 (FY'2011). Tata Motors also gained ahead of its Q4 results due today. Among the major gainers from the Sensex pack, Tata steel rose by 3.03 percent, Sterlite Ind by 2.47 per cent, Hindalco Ind by 2.39 percent, Tata Motors by 2.13 percent and RIL by 2.10 percent. Covering up of pending short positions by speculators prior to monthly expiry in the derivatives segment today also supported the recovery in stock prices. Asian stocks rose in early trade today, led by commodity and consumer related sectors. The key benchmark indices in China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan rose by between 0.58 percent and 1.45 percent, while Singapore's Straits Times index fell 0.06 percent.