The BSE benchmark Sensex rose for the third straight day by adding over 27 points to 19,741 in early trade today on sustained buying by funds amid a firm trend in the Asian region. The 30-share barometer had gained nearly 288points in the previous two sessions.Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty inched up by 3 points to 5,996.Meanwhile in the Asian region, Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose by 0.06 per cent in early trade today. The US Dow JonesIndustrial Average ended 2.35 per cent higher in yesterday's trade.