Remaining firm, the Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange stood 147 points, or 0.7 percent in positive territory, at 20,567 in afternoon trade, a short while ago. Earlier in the morning, the Sensex had gained 155 points, or 0.8 percent, to 20,576 on covering-up of short positions amid the monthly expiry in the derivatives segment, and rising regional bourses. The Sensex had lost 185 points in the previous two trading sessions. Stock markets in Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Singapore had gained between 0.5 percent and 1.8 percent, today, after US employment data boosted optimism in the world's largest economy. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average had ended 0.2 per cent higher in yesterday's trade.