Rise in Sensex, up by 138 points

For the third straight day, the BSE benchmark indexSensex extended gains by rising over 138

points in early trade on continued buying by funds and retail investors after RBI slashed

short-term lending rate.

The 30-share BSE index, which had gained over 263 points in the past two sessions, rallied further

by 138.41 points, or 0.80 per cent, to 17,496.35, with all sectoral indices, led by

realty and metals, trading in the positive zone with gains ofup to 1.12 per cent.

The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty moved up by 39.80 points, or 0.75per cent, to 5,329.50.

Brokers said sentiment afloated after RBI slashed short-term lending rate by 0.50 per cent leading it

to 8 per cent on Tuesday and a firming trend on other Asian bourses, following overnight gains on the

US market on easing concerns over Europe's debt crisis.

In the Asian region, the Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose by 0.94 per cent and Japan's Nikkei Index

was up by 1.67 per cent in morning trade today. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 1.50 per cent

higher in yesterday's trade.

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