The BSE benchmark Sensex today rose over 41 points in early trade on sustained buying on hopes that Reserve Bank of India will cut interest rate tomorrow and better-than-expected corporate earnings.The 30-share barometer rose by slightly over 41 points or 0.20 per cent, to trade above 20 thousand during morning trading.Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index, Nifty, gained 9.40 points, or 0.15 per cent, to 6,084.05.Meanwhile, Japan's Nikkei was up by 0.70 per cent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 0.35 per cent.