At the domestic stock markets, the Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange opened higher, this morning, then later gained further ground, and had surged 279 points, or one percent, to 27,020 in afternoon trade. Similarly, the Nifty at the National Stock Exchange had climbed 88 points, to 8,292 in afternoon trade. Buying was seen across the board. Other key Asian markets in Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea and Singapore had advanced between 0.1 percent and 1.7 percent. And at the forex market, the rupee had appreciated 15 paise, to 67.53 against the dollar in afternoon trade.