Mumbai, Jan 3: The BSE benchmark Sensex rose for the third straight day by adding over 27 points in early trade on Thursday on sustained buying by funds amid a firm trend in the Asian region.
The 30-share barometer rose by 27.16 points, or 0.14 per cent, to 19,741.40, with metal, oil and gas and capital goods sectors leading the rise. The index had gained nearly 288 points in the previous two sessions.
Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty inched up by 2.85 points, or 0.05 per cent, to 5,996.10.
Brokers said sustained buying by funds and retail investors amid a firm trend in the Asian region following strong overnight gains at the US market mainly influenced the trading sentiment.
Meanwhile in the Asian region, Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose by 0.06 per cent in early trade today. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 2.35 per cent higher in yesterday's trade.
