Sensex gains 144 points in early trade

The BSE benchmark Sensex today gained nearly 144 points in early trade on sustained buying by funds amid a firming Asian trend.

The 30-share barometer rose by 143.57 points, or 0.73 per cent to 19,724.38 with all the sectoral indices, led by realty and metal, trading in positive zone with gains up to 1.25 per cent. The index had gained 154.10 in yesterday's trade.

The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty moved up by 41.25 points, or 0.69 per cent per cent, to 5,992.10.

Brokers said the sentiment remained strong on sustained inflows from foreign funds into equity market amid a firming trend in the Asian region as US poised to avert fiscal cliff.

Banking sector stocks continued their upward march on expectations of a rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India. Stocks of Bank of India gained 0.71 per cent, State Bank of India shot up by 1.20 per cent, while ICICI Bank up 0.91 per cent.

In the Asian region, Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose by 1.18 per cent. The stock market in Japan is closed today.

GLOBAL MARKETS ROUNDUP

* Nifty futures on the Singapore Exchange gains 1.5 percent. The MSCI-Asia Pacific index, excluding Japan is up 1.56 percent.

* Asian stocks started new year with gains after a bill to avert the U.S. "fiscal cliff" cleared a procedural vote in the U.S. House of Representatives by an overwhelming margin, indicating strong support for final passage in a vote expected later on Tuesday.

* U.S. markets remain shut for New Year's holidays.

INDIAN STOCKS TO WATCH

FINANCIAL/REGULATORY

* India's central bank said on Tuesday the monetary policy department will directly report to Governor Duvvuri Subbarao till further orders, with Subir Gokarn's term as a deputy governor coming to a close.

... contd.

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