Continuing its rising streak for the third straight session, the BSE benchmark Sensex on Wednesday rose by over 106 points in early trade on sustained buying by funds and retail investors amid a firm trend in other Asian bourses.

The 30-share index, which had gained 167.57 points in the past two sessions, rose further by 106.70 points, or 0.54 per cent, to 19,742.42 points.

The wide-based Nifty of the National Stock Exchange moved up by 31.30 points, or 0.52 per cent, to 5,971.00, with all sectoral indices led by refinery, realty, and IT gaining up to 0.88 per cent.

Brokers said continued buying by funds as well as retail investors tracking a firming trend on other Asian bourses, mainly buoyed the trading sentiment in Mumbai.

Asian shares edged higher on Wednesday, boosted by rising global equities overnight on an improving global economic scenario, they added.

Among Asian markets, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose by 0.30 per cent, while Japan’s Nikkei by 0.77 per cent in early trade.

The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.39 per cent higher on Tuesday.