The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange rose 123 points, or 0.7 per cent, to regain the psychological 17,000-level, at 17,029 in opening trade, today, on fresh buying by funds and retail investors, amid covering-up of short positions by speculators. Later, the Sensex remained largely firm, and stood 102 points, or 0.6 per cent in the green, at 17,009, in afternoon deals, a short while ago. Key stock indices in Japan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea were trading mixed, today. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average had ended 0.3 per cent higher in yesterday's trade.