The BSE benchmark Sensex today roseby 118 points in early trade on sustained buying by funds amid a firm trend in other Asian bourses.The 30-share index rose by 117.61 points, or 0.64 per cent, to 18,532.06 points with all sectoral indices, led by auto and realty, gaining up to 1.29 per cent. The index had gained 187.97 points yesterday.The wide-based Nifty of the National Stock Exchange moved up by 22.00 points, or 0.40 per cent, to 5,580.70.In the Asian markets, Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose by 0.80 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei by 1.18 per cent in early trade today.The US Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.88 per cent to close at fresh record high yesterday.