Persistent all-round buying mainly in IT sector from operators and investors pushed up the BSE benchmark sensex to a fresh 33 month high of 20,808.44 in the early trade.

The BSE benchmark sensex resumed higher at 20,700.42 and shot up further to 20,808.44 before quoting at 20,787.86 at 0915 hours, showing a net gain of 99.98 points or 0.48 per cent.

The NSE 50-share nifty also rose by 34.60 points or 0.56 per cent to 6,268.50 at 0915 hours. Higher advices from global markets also boosted the market sentiment.

Asian markets edged higher in the early trade as strengthening economic and corporate earnings data boosted confidence in a global recovery.

The key benchmark indices in Japan, Indonesia, China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore rose by between 0.23 per cent to 1.82 per cent.

US markets advanced on Wednesday as investors cheered the latest round of US blue-chip earnings.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 75.68 points or 0.69 per cent and the Nasdaq Composite advanced 23.31 points or 0.96 per cent.