Sensex ticks up 100 points on positive Asian cues, short-covering

Mumbai: The benchmark BSE Sensex rose almost 100 points in early trade today, extending its uptrend for the second day, on sustained buying by participants amid a firming trend in Asia.

The covering-up of short positions by speculators ahead of the monthly expiry in the derivatives segment on Thursday supported the upside. The 30-share barometer, which had rallied 195.42 points in the previous session, rose further by 99.65 points, or 0.38 percent, to 26,133.78. Also, the NSE Nifty gained 17 points, or 0.21 percent, to 7,942.15.

Among other Asian markets, Hong Kong's Hang Seng firmed up 0.42 percent while Japan's Nikkei turned higher by 0.14 percent in early session today. The Shanghai Composite Index moved up 0.17 percent.

The US Dow Jones Industrial Average, however, ended 0.14 percent lower yesterday.