The BSE benchmark Sensex rose by nearly 163 points in early trade on Thursday ahead of Union Budget 2013-14 amid a firming global trend.
The 30-share barometer gained by 162.86 points, or 0.85 per cent, to 19,315.27. The index had gained 137.27 points in the previous session after pre-Budget Economic Survey projected a promising growth outlook for 2013-14.
All the sectoral indices led by capital goods and realty, were trading in positive zone with gains up to 1.49 per cent.
Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange Nifty index moved up by 49.55 points, or 0.85 per cent, to 5,846.45.
Brokers said fresh positions built-up by participants on expectations of some sops in the budget for the year 2013-14 to be announced later in the day buoyed the trading sentiment.
