The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange gained 79 points, or 0.4 per cent, to 19,094 in opening trade, this morning, on fresh buying by funds and retail investors at existing lower levels, amid a firm Asian trend. Later, in afternoon trade, the Sensex gained considerably more ground, to stand a good 157 points, or 0.8 per cent in the green, at 19,172, a short while ago. Key Asian markets in China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea had gained between 0.2 percent and 0.8 percent, today, after US economic data, and comments from the US central bank chairman lifted sentiment in the global markets. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average had ended 0.8 per cent higher in yesterday's trade.