The BSE benchmark Sensex continued to rule firm by gaining another 88 points in early trade on persistent buying by operators and investors mainly in Realty, Auto and FMCG sectors on the back of sustained capital inflows from foreign funds into the equity market.

The 30-share barometer resumed higher at 18,896.24 and hovered in a range between 18,942.42 and 18,826.01 before quoting at 18,850.14 at 1015hrs, showing a gain of 87.34 points, or 0.47 per cent, from last weekend’s level.

The NSE 50-share nifty also moved up by 25.60 points, or 0.45 per cent, to 5,652.80 at 1015hrs.

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 599.66 crore on last Friday as per provisional data from the stock exchanges.

Among the 30-member Sensex pack, 28 stocks rose while the remaining fell.

Major gainers were DLF (1.88 per cent), Reliance Infra (1.87 per cent), Mahindra & Mahindra (1.40 per cent) and Sterlite Industries (1.41 per cent).

Asian stocks also advanced in the early trade as exporters climbed after US manufacturing unexpectedly accelerated in June 2011. The key benchmark indices in Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan were up by between 0.68 per cent and 1.83 per cent.

• Mukesh Ambani's RIL buys out British toy-maker Hamleys for £68 million
• ‘Firms missing from database will not affect GDP calculation
• Jet collapse: pilots ask PM to probe Etihad’s ‘role’
• Hospitality sector set for boom after a decade’s lull
• ‘Jet’s lenders gave paltry sums in instalments’
• Industrial growth dips in Feb., retail inflation at 5-month high in March
• Knotty times for Tiruppur knitwear industry
• Jet Airways may make a landing in Tata Group
• Growth rate highest since liberalisation: CEA
• New loan pricing scheme may be put off