The Sensex at the bombay Stock Exchange jumped 165 points, or 1 per cent, to 16,620 in early trade, today, on continued buying by funds and retail investors, driven by the government's bid to fast track infrastructure projects, hopes of a rate cut by the Reserve Bank, and positive Asian markets. Later, the Sensex remained firm, and stood 161 points, or 1 per cent in the green, at 16,616 in afternoon deals, a short while ago. Stock markets in Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan had gained between 0.1 percent and 2.5 percent, today, on investor hopes for US and European monetary easing to counter growing economic problems. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average had shot up 2.4 per cent in yesterday's trade.