BSE Sensex today rose over 13 points in early trade,extending gains for the second straight session on sustained buying by funds in bluechips amid a firm trend in the Asian region. The 30-share index,which had gained 88.26 points in the previous session,rose further by 13.28 points,or 0.07 per cent,to 18,642.43 points,led by oil and gas,power and IT sector stocks. The National Stock Exchange index Nifty moved up by 11 points,or 0.20 per cent,to 5,620.10 points. STOCK MARKET LINKS * BSE Sensex * NSE Nifty * Top Gainers/Top Losers * Top Value * Top Quantity Brokers said sustained buying by funds amid a firm trend in other Asian bourses mainly boosted the trading sentiment. In Asia,Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose by 1.18 per cent,while Japan's Nikkei by 1.41 per cent in early trade. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.69 per cent higher in yesterday's trade. Indian stocks to watch - June 26 GLOBAL MARKETS ROUNDUP * Nifty futures on the Singapore Exchange are 0.28 percent up and the MSCI-Asia Pacific index excluding Japan is 0.98 percent higher. * Asian shares edged higher to reverse a four-day losing streak on Wednesday as investors took comfort from firm U.S. data underscoring an American recovery,and assurances from China's central bank to provide funds to institutions if needed. * U.S. stocks rose by the most in nearly two weeks on Tuesday after data showed business investment and the housing recovery continued apace,reassuring investors worried about the Federal Reserve's plans to reduce its massive monetary stimulus. FACTORS TO WATCH * Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on a two-day visit to the troubled state of Jammu and Kashmir to inaugurate India's longest railway tunnel in Srinagar. * An Indian ministerial panel meets to discuss the pricing of 2G mobile phone airwaves in the next auction and other issues around the planned auction. (1130 GMT) INDIAN STOCKS TO WATCH Bajaj Auto gets work stoppage notice from workmen's union of Chakan plant Sanofi,Novartis and GSK in race to buy Elder Pharma's domestic formulations business Tamil Nadu offers to buy Neyveli Lignite stake via State PSUs Overload of foreigners on boards may ground Jet-Etihad deal; aviation min objects Reliance Capital to spin off retail lending; ropes in Japanese financial firms India's market regulator eases foreign investment rules India to lift FDI cap in some sectors by July 3rd week - minister India's central bank moves to deter rural gold buying India cbank allows telcos to refinance rupee loans until March India cbank extends buyback time period of FCCBs till Dec 31 Merck & Co wins injunction against Indian firm over diabetes drugs India's Strides Arcolab gets WHO nod for malaria treatment Aditya Birla Nuvo to apply for banking license India cbank discontinues overseas borrowings in renminbi immediately Spice Group to seek banking licence,in talks to rope in S'pore investor * Best Performing Mutual Funds
