Markets up; Sensex gains 138 pts

A benchmark index of the equities markets gain by nearly 138 points in early trade on sustained buying by funds and retail investors triggered by a firming trend on other Asian bourses.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), gained 137.84 points, or 0.68 percent, to trade at 20,423.96, with all the sectoral indices rising up to 1.14 percent.

The barometer had gained nearly 595 points in the previous four sessions.

The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty rose by 30.65 points, or 0.50 percent, to trade above 6,200-level at 6,217.95.

A firming trend in the Asian region following gains on the US market encouraged by strong data also supported the sentiment.

In Asia, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose by 1.30 percent, while Japan's Nikkei was up by 1.38 percent in early trade on Monday.