The BSE benchmark Sensex rose by over 55 points in early trade today.The 30-share barometer, which had climbed almost 505 points in the previous two sessions, rose by another 55.26points, or 0.32 per cent, to 17,199.The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty also moved up by 15.05 points, or 0.29 per cent, to 5,215 .