The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange rose 140 points, or 0.8 percent, to cross the 17,000-mark, at 17,003 in early trade, today, on sustained buying by investors, amid a firm Asian trend.Later, the Sensex climbed further, to stand a solid 238 points or 1.4 percent in positive territory, at 17,101 in afternoon trade, a short while ago.Other Asian markets in Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Indonesia were up by between 1.4 percent and 3.7 percent, today.