Sensex up 46 points in early trade

Extending gains for the fifth straight session, the BSE benchmark Sensex today rose over 46 points in early trade on the back sustained buying by funds and retail investors.

The 30-share index, which had gained over 805 points in the previous four sessions, rose by 46.40 points, or 0.24 per cent, to 19,729.63 in early trade, led by stocks of realty, oil and gas banking sectors.

Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty rose by 14.35 points, or 0.24 per cent, to 5,960.05.

Brokers said besides a firming trend in the Asian region, expectations of a rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India in its policy review later this month and hopes of encouraging industrial production data for January to be announced tomorrow, buoyed the trading sentiment here.

Meanwhile, in Asia, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose by 0.17 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei gained 0.92 per cent.

The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.47 per cent higher in previous session on Friday.