Sensex rises by 151 points ahead of IIP, inflation data

Mumbai: Rising for the third straightsession, the benchmark BSE Sensex gained over 151 points in early trade, as participants engaged in enlarging  positions ahead of IIP and retail inflation data to be released later in the day.  

Besides, expectations of faster economic reforms by the government and optimism over the forthcoming Budget, buoyed trading sentiments. The 30-share index was trading higher by 151.91 points, or 0.53 per cent, at 28,685.88 with stocks of auto, consumer durables, power, realty and capital goods sectors, leading the rise.  

The gauge had gained 306.58 points in the previous two   sessions. On similar lines, the National Stock Exchange index Nifty   rose by 36.30 points, or 0.42 per cent, at 8,663.70.  Brokers said fresh positions created by participants ahead of key economic data -industrial production (IIP) numbers for December and retail inflation for January - to be released later in the day, contributed to the rise.  

Further, a better trend at other Asian markets influenced trading sentiments here, they said. Among other Asian markets, Hong Kong's Hang Seng was up   by 0.26 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei gained 1.64 per cent in   early trade today. However, the US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.04 per cent lower in yesterday's trade.