Extending early gains, the Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange stood a robust 428 points, or 2.3 percent in positive territory, at 19,304 in afternoon trade, a short while ago.

Earlier in the morning, the Sensex had opened with a strong gain of 293 points, or 1.6 percent, to cross the 19,000 level, at 19,169. The market was lifted by a strong rally in oil and gas stocks, after the government approved near doubling of natural gas prices from April next year. Firm global bourses also fuelled the rally.

Stock markets in Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea had gained between 1.2 percent and 3.5 percent, today, on easing fears of an early end to the US monetary stimulus. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average had ended 0.8 per cent higher in yesterday's trade.

The rupee rose by 37 paise to 59.82 rupees against the American currency in early trade on the Interbank Foreign Exchange today, extending yesterday's recovery on increased dollar selling by banks and exporters, and strong domestic equity market.

However, month-end demand from oil importers for the American currency limited gains. Selling of dollars by exporters and some banks coupled with a higher opening in the equity market supported the local unit.

Euro's gain against the American currency overseas also supported the rupee. The rupee had strengthened by 53 paise to close at 60.19 rupees per dollar yesterday after current account gap moderated sharply.