The BSE benchmark Sensex today gained over 53 points in early trade on fresh buying by funds and retail investors amid a firm trend in Asian markets. The 30-share barometer rose by 0.27 percent, to 19,977 with stocks of auto, IT, healthcare and capital goods sectors leading the recovery. The index had lost over 102 points yesterday. The wide-based National Stock Exchange index, Nifty, moved up by over 8 points to 6,027. In Asia, Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose by 0.11 per cent, while the Japan's Nikkei by 2.35 per cent in early trade.The US Dow Jones Industrial Average had ended 0.33 per cent higher in yesterday's trade.