The domestic stock markets rose for the third straight day, today, as the government approved implementation of the 7th Pay Commission recommendations, and as global markets rallied again, while the rupee logged strong gains against the dollar. The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange climbed 216 points, or 0.8 percent, to close at 26,740. The Nifty at the National Stock Exchange gained 76 points, to 8,204. Other key Asian markets in Japan, China, Hong Kong, South Korea and Singapore advanced between 0.7 percent and 1.6 percent. Major European bourses in the UK, Germany and France rallied more than 1.7 percent, each. At the forex market, the rupee strengthened 27 paise, to 67.68 against the dollar. And Brent crude oil futures climbed 49 cents, to 49.07 dollars a barrel.