The BSE benchmark Sensex rose by almost 64 points to 18,534 in early trade today on sustained buying by funds and retailers largely on hopes of more reform measures by the government in the Winter Session of Parliament. The 30-share barometer had gained 131 points yesterday.The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty moved up by 14 points to 5,629.Besides, a firming trend in the Asian region fuelled by overnight gains on the US markets also boosted the sentiment.In Asia, Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose by 0.33 per cent, while the Japan's Nikkei rose by 1.23 per cent in early trade today. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average had ended 0.38 per cent higher yesterday.