The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange, which had opened 294 points higher, in morning trade on Monday, later gained further ground to stand 336 points, or 1.7 per cent in the green, at 20,369, in late morning trade. Investor sentiment improved after Reliance Industries reported good quarterly numbers. But the Bombay Stock Exchange then had to close trading from 12 noon, due to a technical glitch. Trading is now reportedly expected to resume at 2.30 p.m. The Nifty at the National Stock Exchange, which had opened 80 points higher, stood 109 points, or 1.8 percent in the green at 6,127, a short while ago. Most other key Asian bourses also rose, with benchmark indices in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea gaining between 1 percent and 1.9 percent, on strong manufacturing data from China. Back home, at the inter-bank foreign exchange market, the rupee resumed higher, at 44.35 against the dollar, compared to last Friday's close of 44.43. But it failed to hold on to its initial gains, and slipped 5 paise, to 44.48 against the greenback, on mild dollar demand from banks.