The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange rose 61 points, or 0.3 percent, to 18,824, on hopes that the government will soon announce more economic reforms, and amid positive European markets, today. The Nifty gained 16 points, or 0.3 percent, to 5,719.Most other key Asian stock markets were closed. But Japan's Nikkei-225 index fell 0.8 percent; and Singapore's Straits Times index lost 0.1 percent.The rupee appreciated 45 paise, to an over 5-month high of 52.40 against the dollar.Snapping a four-day losing streak, gold rose 170 rupees, to 31,750 rupees per ten grams in Delhi. But silver declined 500 rupees, to 60,500 rupees per kilo. And Brent crude oil futures slipped towards 112 dollars a barrel, and US crude fell 93 cents, to 91.26 dollars a barrel.