The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange rose 140 points, or 0.8 per cent, to 17,618 in early trade, this morning, on sustained buying by funds and retail investors, tracking firm global markets. Later, the Sensex remained steady, and stood 151 points, or 0.9 per cent in the positive zone, at 17,629 in afternoon deals, a short while ago. The 30-share Sensex had gained nearly 420 points in the last two trading sessions. Key stock indices in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, and South Korea were up by between 0.1 percent and 1.3 percent, today. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average had gained 0.4 per cent, overnight, after strong manufacturing data.