The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange gained 144 points to 19,724 in early trade today on sustained buying by funds amid a firming Asian trend. With all the sectoral indices, led by realty and metal, the benchmark sensex was trading in positive zone with gains of up to 1.25 percent. The 30-share barometer was trading up by 164 point at 19, 744 a short while ago.The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty was trading at 6003 up by 52 points. Earlier, it opened 41 points higher at 5,992 today.