The Bombay Stocks Exchange benchmark Sensex gained over 206 points in early trade today. It was trading at 16594, up by over 143 points a short while ago. Brokers said rise in Sensex is on funds buying propelled by hopes of better quarterly results and a firming trend on other Asian bourses.The wide-based Nifty of the National Stock Exchange regained the psychological 5,000 points mark rising by 57 points 5,012.85, for the first time since December 8 last year.In Asia, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose by 0.75 per cent and Japan's Nikkei Index by 0.54 per cent in morning trade today.The US Dow Jones Industrial average ended 0.78 per cent higher yesterday.