The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange rose a hefty 269 points, or 1.6 per cent, to 17,260 in opening trade, today, on sustained buying by funds and retail investors, on hopes that the government will announce economic reforms to boost the economy, and amid rising regional markets. Later, the Sensex gained further ground, and stood a massive 379 points, or 2.2 percent in the green, at 17,370 in afternoon deals, a short while ago. The 30-share Sensex had gained 108 points in the past three trading sessions.Other Asian markets in Japan, China, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Indonesia were up by between 0.7 percent and 1.9 percent, today, after a meeting of European leaders unveiled a plan to address Europe's distressed banking sector.