The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange gained 170 points, or 1 per cent, to 16,728 in opening trade, this morning, on sustained buying by investors, and in line with firm Asian markets. Later, after advancing 217 points at one stage, the Sensex pared its gains considerably, to stand just 9 points, or 0.1 percent in positive teritory, at 16,566 in afternoon deals, a short while ago. The 30-share Sensex has already rallied more than 760 points in the past two trading sessions. Other Asian markets in Japan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Korea were up by between 0.2 percent and 2 percent, today. Across in the US, the Dow Jones Industrial Average had spurted almost 3 per cent, overnight.