The BSE benchmark Sensex gained nearly 70 points in early trade today or 0.39 per cent, to 17,632. Buying in capital goods, refineries, power, auto and metal stocks helped the Sensex gain. In a similar fashion, the wide-based National StockExchange Nifty Index moved up by 19 points, or 0.35 percent, to 5,303. In the Asian region, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose by 0.73 per cent. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.71 per cent higher yesterday.PTI /0953 HRS