The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange spurted 176 points, or 1.1 per cent, to surge past the 17,000 point level for the first time in 16 months, to 17,028 in early trade, on Wednesday. Continued buying by foreign funds on expectations of strong quarterly corporate earnings lifted the market. Remaining firm, the Sensex was up 194 points, or 1.2 per cent, at 17,047, a short while ago. Stock markets in Japan, China, Singapore, South Korea, and Hong Kong were mixed, after a surprise fall in US Consumer confidence.