Sensex up 60 points in early trade

Mumbai, October 4: Continuing its rising streak for the third straight session, the BSE benchmark Sensex on Friday rose over 60 points in early trade on sustained buying by funds as well as retail investors, ignoring a weak trend on the other Asian boures.

The 30-share index gained 60.89 points, or 0.31 percent, to trade at 19,962.96 points in early trade with auto, consumer durables, IT and realty sector stocks leading the rise.

It had rallied over 522 points in the past two sessions. On the similar lines, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty moved up 12.00 points, or 0.20 percent, to 5,921.70.

Brokers said sustained buying by funds as well as retail investors took place as the partial US government shutdown eased fears about the Federal Reserve tapering its monetary stimulus programme soon.

Stocks of Jet Airways turned buyers' fancy and shot up by 3.60 per cent to Rs 400.50 after the Union Cabinet last night cleared its proposed sale of 24 percent equity to Abu Dhabi-based Etihad.

In the Asian region, the Japan's Nikkei fell 0.90 per cent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng shed 0.72 percent in early trade. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.90 percent lower in Thursday's trade.