Mumbai: The benchmark BSE Sensex on Friday rose over 73 points in early trade, extending gains for the third straight day on sustained buying by funds and retail investors, driven by rising optimism over trade ties with China amidst a firming trend overseas.

The 30-share index gained 73.39 points, or 0.27 percent, to 27,185.60 with power, realty, infrastructure, PSU, healthcare, and metal sector stocks leading the rally. The index had gained 619.70 points in the last two sessions.

In a similar fashion, the broad-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty moved up by 21.85 points, 0.27 percent, to 8,136.60.

Brokers said sentiments remained upbeat as fears of capital outflows receded on US Fed's continued pledge to retain rates at low levels.

Rising optimism over trade ties with China also boosted sentiments, they said.

Shares of Tata Steel, Tata Power, Tata Motors, TCS were in good demand and rose up to 1.97 percent after Moody's yesterday upgraded ratings of Tata Group firms.

Meanwhile, India yesterday signed a 5-year trade and economic cooperation agreement with China with a view to improve the trade balance and obtain USD 20 billion Chinese investments.

In the Asian region, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was up 0.69 percent, while Japan's Nikkei moved up by 0.68 points in early trade today.

The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended at yet another record high by rising 0.64 percent in yesterday's trade on Fed's continued pledge to retain raters at low levels.--PTI