<h1>Stock markets rose early as Sensex and Nifty gained on softer US inflation, trade optimism and foreign inflows.</h1> Equity benchmarks rose in early trade with the Sensex up about 273 points and the Nifty up about 89 points, led by gains in major blue chips while certain technology and financial stocks lagged. The rally was attributed to a softer US inflation print renewing hopes of Fed rate cuts, prospects of a US-China trade deal, possible tariff relief and renewed foreign institutional investor inflows, with positive moves in Asian and US markets and a slight rise in Brent crude supporting risk appetite.