The S&P BSE benchmark Sensex today extended gains for the fourth straight session, spurting over 401 points in early trade on sustained buying by funds and retail investors, triggered by strengthening rupee and a firming trend in the Asian region.
The 30-share index, which had gained nearly 1,030 points in the past three sessions, rose further by 401.35 points, or 2.08 per cent, to 19,671.41 points with all the sectoral indices led by banking and capital goods trading in positive zone and rising up to 3.17 per cent.
The broad-based NSE Nifty also moved up 129.85 points, or 2.29 per cent, to 5,810.25.
Brokers said market sentiment remained bullish since the RBI announced a slew of measures last week to attract capital inflows, boost economic growth and stem the rupee's fall.
Besides, a firming trend on the other Asian bourses buoyed by a string of upbeat global economic data as well as signs that a US-led strike on Syria could be averted also influenced the sentiments here.
The BSE banking index gained the most by rising 3.17 per cent to 11,692.50 as stocks like SBI was up by 2.54 per cent to 1674.80, ICICI Bank by 1.24 per cent to Rs 970.90, Axis Bank by 5.15 per cent to Rs 1,002.50, Yes Bank by 4.99 per cent to Rs 307.35 and HDFC Bank by 2.24 per cent to Rs 630.10.
Among Asian markets, Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose by 0.61 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei by 1.07 per cent in early trade today.
The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.94 per cent higher in yesterday's trade.
